Europe Strengthens RSV, Maternal Vaccine Prevention

A Brussels-based workshop scheduled for March 2026 will gather civil society organizations and patient advocacy groups from across the European Union to discuss strengthening policies around respiratory syncytial virus and maternal vaccination. The event, organized by Active Citizenship Network—the EU branch of the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva—aims to connect prevention advocates with updated scientific guidance and practical implementation strategies.

Who Will Attend and What They Hope to Achieve

Leaders of civil society organizations and patient advocacy groups from eight EU member states are expected to participate: Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, and Spain. The closed-door format is designed to allow frank discussion among organizations already involved in vaccination policy work in their respective countries.

Independent experts from the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians will present current information on maternal vaccination rates and the burden of RSV disease. The Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants will demonstrate approaches to citizen engagement that can support public vaccination policy at the national level.

Position Papers and Policy Context

The timing of the workshop aligns with recent publications from major health authorities. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control released guidance titled “Protecting infants against respiratory syncytial virus this winter,” while the World Health Organization published a position paper on immunization to protect infants against RSV disease. These documents provide the scientific foundation that workshop participants will work from as they consider advocacy strategies in their home countries.

Understanding current recommendations is a prerequisite for taking action within any national context, according to organizers. The workshop structure reflects this by pairing scientific briefings with practical sessions on how advocacy groups can translate guidance into domestic policy discussions.

During the event, organizers will present for the first time at the European level the “Italian RSV Observatory: Equal access to prevention,” a Cittadinanzattiva initiative tracking prevention equity within Italy’s healthcare system. The observatory model may offer a template for similar monitoring efforts in other member states, though no formal plans for expansion were outlined.

Funding and Project Scope

The initiative falls under the broader EU project “Protecting the value of prevention across Europe: focus on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) & maternal vaccination.” Pfizer provided unconditional support for the project, according to documentation reviewed by reporters. Unconditional funding means the pharmaceutical company did not direct how the money was spent, though the connection to an RSV vaccine manufacturer is noted in project disclosures.

The March 19 date places the workshop roughly one year ahead, giving participating organizations time to prepare position papers and coordinate messaging before the event. Travel and accommodation details for representatives from the eight countries were not included in the initial announcement.