Maternal RSV vaccine cuts infant hospitalizations by 80%
UK health officials report that a maternal vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has reduced hospital admissions for infants by over 80%. Introduced in September 2024, the vaccine is administered to pregnant women from 28 weeks' gestation and has shown nearly 85% effectiveness when given at least four weeks before birth. A study involving nearly 300,000 infants born between September 2024 and March 2025 found that the majority of hospitalizations were among infants whose mothers were unvaccinated.
Blue Origin Prepares Third New Glenn Flight with Reused Booster
Blue Origin is preparing for the third flight of its New Glenn rocket, utilizing a reused booster named 'Never Tell Me the Odds,' which previously flew during the NG-2 mission in late 2025. The rocket's seven BE-4 engines successfully completed a critical pre-launch demonstration, firing for about 20 seconds on April 18, 2026, with the launch of AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird-7 satellite potentially set for April 19. Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp noted that the engines used for this flight are newly upgraded, distinct from those used in prior missions.
