On June 25, 2026, the landscape of vaccine research and maternal immunization in the United States and the United Kingdom saw two major developments, each signaling a shift in how scientists and clinicians are thinking about disease prevention. From a groundbreaking $18 million investment in a universal vaccine platform to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) breaking away from federal guidance with its own maternal immunization schedule, these changes are poised to influence public health for years to come.
At the heart of the first story is the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), a UK-based research and development funding agency, which awarded a four-and-a-half year grant to a team led by Dr. Bali Pulendran of Stanford University. The mission? To develop a universal vaccine platform that could protect not just against viruses like influenza and COVID-19, but also bacteria responsible for pneumonia and even common allergens such as pollen and dust mites. ARIA’s support comes through its Sustained Viral Resilience program, which aims to create a new class of medicines known as sustained innate immunoprophylactics—medicines that provide enduring protection by harnessing the power of the innate immune system.
The collaboration, which includes researchers from both Stanford and Imperial College London, is set to advance this next-generation vaccine platform toward human testing. According to Science, the team’s preclinical studies have already demonstrated broad protection against a variety of respiratory pathogens. The unique approach centers on intranasal administration, aiming to induce safe, comprehensive immunity not just against respiratory viruses, but also against the triggers of allergies.
Dr. Pulendran, the project’s principal investigator and the Violetta L. Horton Professor II, described the platform’s underlying philosophy: “We are looking to leverage the innate immune system, an incredibly broad system of defense, to create a new and transformative vaccine paradigm.” The innate immune system, as Pulendran explained, responds rapidly to pathogens—within days—while the adaptive immune system, which most vaccines target, produces long-lasting pathogen-specific T cells and antibodies. But there’s a catch: pathogens mutate, sometimes evading these targeted responses, which is why we need new vaccines every flu season and scramble to develop new ones when novel viruses emerge.
What sets this universal vaccine platform apart is its use of a specific kind of T cell to “teach” the innate immune system to remain alert, effectively extending its protective response for weeks or even months. “The T cells can teach the innate immune system, giving it a new lease on life and helping it fight infections,” Pulendran said. This approach not only provides a first line of defense against new or mutating pathogens but also, intriguingly, dampens allergic immune responses—the culprits behind the inflammation and mucus production that allergy sufferers know all too well.
The $18 million ARIA award will cover crucial toxicology and good manufacturing practice studies to ensure the vaccine’s safety and quality. Following these, the team plans to launch Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical trials, involving dose escalation and a controlled infection challenge model to rigorously assess the vaccine’s effectiveness when delivered intranasally. If all goes according to plan, Pulendran and his colleagues hope that within a decade, this universal vaccine could reach clinics and redefine what it means to be vaccinated. As Pulendran put it, “If successful, this approach could redefine what a vaccine is—shifting the field from targeting individual pathogens to building broad, durable resilience that transcends pathogen boundaries.”
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, a different kind of vaccine revolution is underway. On June 10, 2026, ACOG released its first-ever Maternal Immunization Schedule, marking the first time the organization has issued recommendations that diverge from federal vaccine guidance. Developed by ACOG’s Immunization, Infectious Disease, and Public Health Preparedness Expert Work Group and endorsed by 13 major medical organizations—including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM), and the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health (NPWH)—the new schedule is designed to provide consistent, evidence-based guidance for clinicians and their patients amid a climate of shifting recommendations and rampant vaccine misinformation.
ACOG’s decision to withdraw from the CDC’s advisory committee on vaccines earlier this year was prompted by changes in federal vaccine recommendations under the current administration and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. According to Contemporary OB/GYN, ACOG President Dr. Camille A. Clare explained, “Changing national recommendations coupled with rampant vaccine misinformation are resulting in confusion for both patients and health care professionals. It is incredibly important for the public to have access to reliable, evidence-based information on maternal immunizations from a trusted source. ACOG is proud to be that source.”
The new schedule stands out for placing COVID-19 vaccination in the “Routinely Recommended During Pregnancy” category—advising its administration at any time of year and at any gestational age. This is a notable departure from CDC guidance, which no longer recommends COVID-19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children. Alongside COVID-19, three other vaccines are routinely recommended in every pregnancy: inactivated or recombinant influenza (administered any time, any gestational age), Tdap (given at 27–36 weeks of gestation), and maternal RSV vaccine (Pfizer’s Abrysvo, administered seasonally between 32 weeks 0 days and 36 weeks 6 days of gestation).
ACOG’s recommendations are detailed and practical. For instance, Tdap is to be administered preferably during the early part of the 27–36 week window, regardless of prior vaccination history. Influenza vaccination should ideally occur before the start of flu season—by the end of October—but is encouraged at any point during the season to ensure ongoing protection. The maternal RSV vaccine is a one-time dose for the first eligible pregnancy, with repeat vaccination not indicated in subsequent pregnancies; instead, infants should receive a monoclonal antibody for protection.
Other vaccines—such as pneumococcal, meningococcal, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B—are recommended only for those with specific comorbidities or risk factors. HPV, MMR, and varicella vaccines, on the other hand, are contraindicated during pregnancy and should be administered either before pregnancy or after birth.
Endorsing organizations have highlighted the dual benefit of maternal vaccination: protecting both the mother and the newborn during the most vulnerable stages of life. As Dr. Margot Savoy, Chief Medical Officer of the AAFP, put it, “Maternal immunization is one of the most effective ways we can protect both pregnant patients and babies during some of the most vulnerable stages of life.” Dr. Andrew Racine, President of the AAP, echoed this sentiment, noting, “Babies are among the most vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases. Their immune systems are still developing, and in those first months of life, they rely on us—the adults around them—to help keep them safe.”
ACOG leadership also sees the schedule as a tool for combating vaccine misinformation and supporting patient education. Dr. Christopher Zahn, ACOG’s Chief of Clinical Practice, stated, “Immunizations are an essential part of prepregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum care. ACOG’s maternal immunization schedule is a tool that ob-gyns can use to start a dialogue with their patients about the importance of protecting themselves and their infants from vaccine-preventable diseases that can lead to poor health outcomes.” The endorsement by nurse practitioners and midwives further underscores the schedule’s intended reach across all corners of maternal care.
Together, these advances in vaccine science and policy underscore a growing commitment to innovation and patient-centered care—whether that means reimagining the very nature of vaccines or ensuring that expectant mothers have access to clear, evidence-based guidance. With new tools and new thinking, the future of immunization looks more resilient than ever.