Dr. Robert Malone: FDA Approved Moderna COVID Shot for Children Without Kennedy’s Knowledge
Two senior aides dismissed amid internal fallout
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Moderna’s COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for young children earlier this month without informing U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., former chairman of Children’s Health Defense, raising questions about internal accountability and oversight within the department.
The approval, granted while Kennedy was reportedly on vacation, applies to children aged six months to 11 years deemed an increased risk for COVID-19. The decision came without consultation with Kennedy or his deputy chief of staff, according to multiple sources. The agency reportedly did not brief Kennedy or his team in advance, despite his role as the department’s top official overseeing the FDA.
BREAKING: FDA Commissioner @MartyMakary did not inform @RobertKennedyJr (who was on vacation) or his office that FDA was going to approve the mRNA shots for children – per source familiar.
— Emerald Robinson ✝️ (@EmeraldRobinson) July 16, 2025
Following the incident, two senior HHS staff—Chief of Staff Heather Flick Melanson and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Hannah Anderson—were dismissed in what media outlets have described as a leadership shakeup. CNN reported the departures on July 17, citing internal conflicts and a loss of confidence in their performance. The agency did not officially link the firings to the FDA’s vaccine decision.
However, reports from the MAHA PAC (Make America Healthy Again), a political action committee aligned with Kennedy’s health agenda, confirmed the timeline and suggested the dismissals were directly tied to the approval being made without proper internal coordination. Dr. Robert Malone, a member of the newly restructured vaccine advisory committee, stated that “neither Secretary Kennedy nor his deputy were read in on this decision,” and that a “major reorganization” at HHS followed their return.
Dr. Robert Malone just revealed the FDA approved Moderna’s new Covid shot without RFK Jr.’s knowledge or sign-off.
He was on vacation and never briefed on the decision.
“The unfortunate facts are that this decision… was made public when both the Secretary of HHS and his… pic.twitter.com/BJLxfmHBVe
— MAHA PAC🗽 (@MAHA_PAC) July 20, 2025
The sequence of events has raised concerns about insubordination and internal breakdowns within one of the most powerful federal health agencies. The incident also highlights ongoing divisions within the U.S. health apparatus over mRNA vaccine policy, particularly for children.
Moderna’s own scientists have previously acknowledged toxicity risks related to lipid nanoparticle delivery systems and protein expression from mRNA platforms. Despite these concerns, the product received full regulatory approval.
A spokesperson for HHS confirmed that Matt Buckham, the department’s White House liaison, will assume the role of acting chief of staff.
Source: Jon Fleetwood Substack, July 21, 2025
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