FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on Thursday recommended a vaccine for pregnant women developed by  Pfizer  to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of death for infants worldwide, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from California, the District of Columbia, and Texas.

• California: U.S. District Court Judge Edward Davila on Wednesday ruled that Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has to begin serving her prison sentence by May 30 while she continues appealing her conviction on charges of defrauding investors. Davila rejected Holmes's request that she remain on bail while the case is being appealed. In November, Holmes was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for conspiracy and fraud against some investors in Theranos. However, her prison sentence was delayed while the appeals court considered her request. (Falconer, Axios, 5/18)
• District of Columbia: FDA's VRBPAC on Thursday recommended a vaccine for pregnant women developed by Pfizer designed to protect infants against RSV, the leading cause of death for infants worldwide. Trial data showed the vaccine had an 82% efficacy rate at protecting infants in their first three months and a 69% efficacy rate at six months. The panel voted 14-0 that Pfizer's data showed the vaccine was effective at preventing severe disease in babies born to those vaccinated during pregnancy, but 10-4 on whether the data supported the safety of the vaccine, with some airing concerns about elevated rates of preterm births among vaccinated mothers. (Jewett, New York Times, 5/18; Branswell, STAT, 5/18; Moreno, Axios, 5/18)
• Texas: HCA Healthcare on Thursday announced it is acquiring 41 urgent care centers from FastMed. The deal, which is expected to close this summer, includes 19 FastMed locations and 22  MedPost centers in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, and San Antonio. HCA currently owns 45 hospitals, 395 physician practices, and 92 urgent care centers in Texas and has invested around $6.6 billion over the past six years to expand services in the state. (Hudson, Modern Healthcare, 5/18)