RSV and maternal vaccines protect European health

European patient groups are preparing for a closed-door meeting in Brussels to strengthen RSV and maternal vaccination policies. The event, titled “EU policy & advocacy workshop: protecting the value of prevention across Europe: focus on RSV & maternal vaccination,” will take place on March 19, 2026. Organized by the EU branch of the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva, the initiative aims to align national strategies with broader European health goals.

Leaders from civil society organisations and patient advocacy groups across the European Union will attend the workshop. Attendees represent various member states, including Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, and Spain. The group will discuss how to advocate for stronger vaccination frameworks within their respective countries.

This initiative is part of a larger EU project called “Protecting the value of prevention across Europe: focus on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) & maternal vaccination.” The project received unconditional support from Pfizer. Independent experts from the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians will present updated data on maternal vaccination and the burden of respiratory syncytial virus. Advocacy groups like the Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants will also participate to highlight the role of citizen engagement in public health policy.

Following the release of key position documents by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), this gathering offers a chance to translate research into actionable advocacy strategies. The event provides a forum to discuss how these international guidelines can be adapted into effective national policies.

It is unusual for such policy workshops to include a focus on specific data observatories. The organizers will present the “Italian RSV Observatory: Equal access to prevention” for the first time at a European level. This presentation will likely serve as a case study for other nations looking to improve their own tracking mechanisms.

Comparing this approach to recent health crises reveals a shift toward more localized data collection. While top-down guidelines are valuable, the ability to monitor access and outcomes regionally often dictates the success of vaccination programs. The Italian observatory aims to demonstrate that granular data can drive equitable health outcomes.

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Building on recent health guidance

The workshop comes shortly after the publication of the ECDC document “Protecting infants against respiratory syncytial virus this winter.” The World Health Organization also released a position paper on immunization to protect infants against the virus. These documents provide the scientific foundation for the discussions expected during the meeting.

Cittadinanzattiva promotes this initiative as a necessary step for advocacy groups. The organization emphasizes that understanding these guidelines is a prerequisite for taking action in one’s own context. By bringing together diverse groups, the workshop seeks to create a unified voice for patient needs across Europe.