The upcoming EU policy & advocacy workshop aims to boost RSV and maternal vaccination policies across Europe, according to organizers from the Cittadinanzattiva‑Active Citizenship Network. Mariano Votta and Bianca Ferraiolo, coordinators of the Active Citizenship Network, are steering the event.
Set for 19 March 2026 in Brussels, the closed‑door session will gather civil society leaders and patient advocates from several EU members. The closed‑door setting encourages candid dialogue among senior policy influencers, free from media scrutiny.
Attendees include representatives from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain, each bringing local experience to the discussion. Delegates represent both civil society organisations and patient advocacy groups, bringing a broad perspective to vaccination challenges.
The event is part of the EU project “Protecting the value of prevention across Europe: focus on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) & maternal vaccination,” funded without conditions by Pfizer. Pfizer’s unconditional backing highlights the pharmaceutical sector’s commitment to supporting preventive health strategies across the European Union.
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While the workshop offers a platform for coordinated action, its real test will be whether the shared knowledge translates into national policy shifts. If participants can align on practical steps, the momentum could push governments to allocate resources more consistently. The challenge remains to keep citizen engagement alive after the meeting ends. By identifying concrete policy levers, the workshop aims to embed prevention priorities into forthcoming national health plans.
Independent experts from the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians will present the latest data on maternal vaccination and RSV burden, and the Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants will illustrate how citizen involvement can shape public health measures. The paediatricians will also discuss recent clinical findings that clarify benefits of maternal immunisation for newborns.
Recent position papers from the ECDC—“Protecting infants against respiratory syncytial virus this winter”—and the WHO—“Position paper on immunization to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus disease”, provide the scientific backdrop for the discussions. These documents serve as a scientific prerequisite, helping participants align advocacy with evidence‑based recommendations clearly today.
For the first time at a European level, the workshop will unveil the “Italian RSV Observatory: Equal access to prevention,” an initiative promoted by Cittadinanzattiva; the room was packed, yet the chairs were empty, showing the paradox of high interest and limited space. The Observatory will collect data on vaccine uptake and equity, providing a transparent tool for monitoring progress across regions.
