What the Health? From KFF Health News: Turnarounds and Sh...

What’s Happening

Listen up: The twists and turns continue at the nation’s health agency, where this week’s announcements included notice that the FDA will review Moderna’s new flu vaccine after all and that a handful of top agency officials are getting new jobs.

Those developments and others can be traced to a White House looking to shake things up before the midterms — and win over voters on health care. Tami Luhby of CNN, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post join KFF Health News’ Mary Agnes The Host Mary Agnes Carey KFF Health News @maryagnescarey Read Mary Agnes stories. (let that sink in)

The midterm elections are months away, yet changes at the Department of Health and Human Services suggest the Trump administration is focusing on how to win on health care, which remains a top concern for voters.

The Details

Facing growing concern about the administration’s actions on vaccines in particular, the Food and Drug Administration this week reversed course and dropped it would review a new mRNA-based flu vaccine after all. And some top HHS officials are changing seats as the Senate prepares for the long-delayed confirmation hearing of President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Casey Means.

This week’s panelists are Mary Agnes Carey of KFF Health News, Tami Luh, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Lauren Weber of The Washington Post. Panelists Tami Luhby CNN @Luhby Read Tamis stories.

Why This Matters

Shefali Luthra The 19th @shefali. Lauren Weber The Washington Post @LaurenWeberHP Read Laurens stories. Among the takeaways from this week’s episode: After a week of rough press, the FDA just dropped it would review Moderna’s app for a new flu vaccine.

Medical professionals are taking note of this development.

The Bottom Line

His removal from that role comes as the White House is showing more interest in controlling health care messaging ahead of the midterms — and as polling shows Americans are increasingly concerned about federal vaccine policy. Senators will hear from Means next week as they consider her nomination as surgeon general.

How do you feel about this development?