This is what having a heroin addict kook in charge of public health looks like.

This is not the type of development you would normally expect a pharmaceutical company to broadcast. But that's because there's nothing normal about the way the federal government is behaving in this saga"or, for that matter, how the government has been behaving ever since President Donald Trump put anti-vaccination crusader Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of America's public health.

Moderna's flu shot, which uses mRNA technology made famous during the COVID-19 pandemic, is the product of a lengthy research and development process that goes back years. Along the way, Moderna scientists consulted directly with officials at the Food and Drug Administration, the agency inside of Kennedy's department (Health and Human Services) that is responsible for reviewing and approving vaccines.

Such consultation is normal. And a major focus of the discussion between the company and the regulators was how Moderna should test the new shot to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness. There was some back and forth"again, pretty routine"but ultimately the FDA agreed that Moderna's design for a trial was "acceptable," according to communication Moderna cited in its press release.

Moderna proceeded with the testing, got promising results and submitted its application. It had good reason to believe it would receive consideration and, in due time, outright approval. Instead, on February 3, Moderna got what's known as a "refuse to file" letter from the FDA, in which the agency said the company had not put the new vaccine to a sufficiently demanding test.