Adults

• The FDA granted approval on April 7, 2026, to Moderna's mRESVIA vaccine, an mRNA-based shot targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for adults aged 60 and older. • Clinical trials showed 83.7% efficacy against RSV lower respiratory tract disease in the first season, with data from over 37,000 participants across 22 countries including US sites. • This marks the second mRNA RSV vaccine approved after GSK's Arexvy, aiming to reduce 140,000-160,000 annual US hospitalizations among seniors; CDC review expected soon.

• Rates of US adults skipping needed care due to unaffordable costs rose to 12.4% in 2024, up from declines seen 2019-2021. • Forgone care varies by state, insurance type, and chronic disease status, exacerbating health disparities nationwide. • Gallup polls identify healthcare costs as the top health issue, surpassing access and obesity concerns for Americans.

Councils urged to crack down on misuse of parking permits that help people with disabilities and health conditionsCouncils in England have been urged to crack down on the misuse of blue badge parking permits – legitimate and counterfeit – as the proportion of people holding them has reached one in 15.The AA called for more to be done to detect offences such as people using fake or stolen badges. Continue reading...

• Pfizer and BioNTech stopped a large US trial of their updated COVID-19 vaccine targeting healthy adults aged 50-64 due to inability to recruit 25,000-30,000 participants without conditions like hypertension or diabetes. • The halt highlights recruitment challenges amid low interest in trials for healthy populations. • This occurs against a backdrop of shifting vaccine policies under the Trump administration, prioritizing chronic disease over broad COVID efforts.

Figures shows 42% of callers to Refuge identify former partner as abuser, but only 12% of adults recognise this possibilityThe risk posed to women by ex-partners in cases of abuse is underestimated by large swathes of the British public, according to the charity Refuge.Data from the charity’s helpline found that 42% of people who call Refuge for help identify a former partner as their abuser, a statistic which underlines how common it is for an ex to be a cause of harm after a relationship has ended. Continue reading...

• A new report reveals that rising healthcare costs are forcing approximately 1 in 3 US adults to reduce basic spending on essentials like utilities, transportation, and prescription medications. • The financial strain is most severe among uninsured Americans, with about 62% reporting they have made trade-offs to afford medical costs, while nearly 3 in 10 insured Americans also report cutting back. • The impact spans income levels: approximately half of households earning $48,000 to $180,000 have delayed major life decisions because of healthcare costs, and one-third of those earning $180,000 to $240,000 report similar delays.

Charity Commission appoints interim manager at William Blake House in Northamptonshire, under investigation after families raised alarmA charity watchdog has taken control of a learning disability care home in Northamptonshire that is under investigation after residents’ families raised concerns over its management, including payments of £1m to a trustee.The Charity Commission has appointed an interim manager to run William Blake House, which faces potential insolvency in three weeks’ time if it cannot head off a winding-up order brought by the tax authorities over £1.6m in unpaid tax bills. Continue reading...