How Moderna Pushed an mRNA Flu Shot Past the FDA

The FDA's top vaccine official refused even to review it. Two weeks later the agency reversed. Here's what was in the file, and who was lobbying in between.

On Feb. 3, the FDA’s top vaccine official refused even to review Moderna’s new mRNA flu shot. Two weeks later, the agency reversed. In August it approved the shot for every adult 50 and up.

Here’s what the FDA had in front of it. In Moderna’s own trial, the shot prevented about one flu case for every 137 people, compared with a cheap standard flu shot. S…