Europe Prioritises RSV Prevention and Maternal Vaccination

European civil‑society groups will convene in Brussels on March 19, 2026 to discuss how to strengthen policies on RSV and maternal vaccination, a workshop organized by the Active Citizenship Network, the EU branch of the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva.

Workshop gathers patient advocates from across the bloc

The closed‑door event, titled “EU policy & advocacy workshop: protecting the value of prevention across Europe: focus on RSV & maternal vaccination,” will host leaders from civil‑society organisations and patient advocacy groups in eight member states. Representatives from Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain are expected to attend.

Organisers say the gathering aims to translate recent guidance from health authorities into concrete actions at the national level. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recently released a position paper urging stronger protection for infants against respiratory syncytial virus during the winter season. The World Health Organization (WHO) also issued a separate stance on immunisation to guard newborns from RSV disease.

Participants will hear independent experts from the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians. Those specialists will present the latest data on the burden of RSV and the benefits of vaccinating pregnant women to confer immunity to newborns.

Pfizer backs the initiative, but civil groups keep the focus on citizens

The workshop is part of a broader EU project called “Protecting the value of prevention across Europe: focus on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) & maternal vaccination.” Funding for the project comes from an unconditional grant by Pfizer, according to the filing notes.

Advocacy organisations such as the Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (GFCNI) will demonstrate how citizen engagement can influence public vaccination policy. Their presentation will stress that community involvement is essential for any lasting change in how vaccines are rolled out.

For the first time at a European level, the event will also showcase the “Italian RSV Observatory: Equal access to prevention,” a platform promoted by Cittadinanzattiva that tracks RSV incidence and vaccine uptake across Italy.

Multiple national groups face varied challenges in each country. While some members have already introduced maternal RSV vaccines into their immunisation schedules, others are still debating cost‑effectiveness and supply logistics. The workshop therefore provides a venue for sharing practical experiences, from procurement strategies to public‑information campaigns.

From a practical standpoint, the discussions could help families whose infants are most vulnerable. If the meeting leads to clearer guidance, parents in the participating countries might see more consistent advice from clinicians and easier access to vaccines, reducing the risk of severe RSV infections during the peak season.

One scheduled session will feature a panel of patient advocates describing real‑world obstacles they encounter when trying to secure vaccination for pregnant women. Their accounts will be matched with the scientific briefings, creating a bridge between data and lived experience.

Organisers plan to compile a set of recommendations after the meeting, which will be circulated to health ministries and EU bodies. The intent is to create a baseline for future policy work, ensuring that the momentum generated in Brussels does not dissipate once participants return to their home nations.

Outcomes remain to be seen, but the gathering marks a notable step toward coordinated action on a disease that accounts for a substantial share of infant hospitalisations each year.

It arrives ahead of the upcoming RSV season.