Double Down on Prevention Now

The European Union is preparing to direct significant financial resources toward vaccination policies and prevention measures, according to a recent policy briefing. Active Citizenship Network, the EU branch of the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva, will convene a workshop in Brussels on December 3, 2025. The event brings together experts and civil society representatives to discuss the next stages of vaccine development and the importance of investing in public health resilience.

Investing in the Pipeline

Research into vaccines has evolved continuously since the first immunization was developed in 1796. Today, scientists are utilizing new platforms like mRNA and DNA to develop more effective tools against infectious diseases. The Brussels workshop will focus on these innovation priorities, examining how new delivery methods can reduce the burden of illness.

The discussion will also cover the ethical and legal frameworks for returning individual data to study participants, a process often referred to as the Return of Individual Participant Data (RoIPD). The FACILITATE project, an Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) project in which the network is involved, proposes a framework for this data return. This approach is designed to be flexible and “by design,” prioritizing the participant. By ensuring that clinical study participants receive their individual data, researchers aim to strengthen public trust and improve health literacy across different settings.

Organized civil society plays a distinct role in this ecosystem. The network argues that focusing on vaccination policy requires looking beyond the product to the public health system. Every year, vaccines save millions of lives, serving as one of the most effective tools available to prevent serious infectious diseases. The Mission Board on Vaccination in Europe, a coalition that includes patient organisations and industry actors, has noted this reality.

The board recently called for the next Multiannual Financial Framework to prioritize immunization as a driver of Europe’s future competitiveness and productivity. Focusing on prevention requires countering the narrative that emphasizes only future global threats. While the possibility of new pandemics remains, the report suggests that the medical and public health fields offer the main source of hope for millions. The network emphasizes that a culture oriented toward prevention must be promoted to address these risks effectively.

Policy and Patient Rights

The European Charter of Patients’ Rights outlines several principles relevant to this approach. It states that each individual has the right of access to innovative procedures, regardless of economic considerations. The charter also notes that health services have a duty to promote and sustain research, paying particular attention to rare diseases, and that research results must be adequately disseminated.

“Vaccination is one of the most powerful and cost-effective tools we have,” said Professor Walter Ricciardi, Chair of the Mission Board on Vaccination in Europe. “It saves lives, strengthens economies, and enables societies to recover and succeed in the face of crisis. Now is the time to double down on prevention.”

The network’s initiative, #VaccinAction2025, is tailored for leaders of patients’ associations, Patients’ Advocacy Groups (PAGs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). This workshop serves as a platform for these leaders to align their strategies across different Member States. The event is by invitation only, targeting organizations already engaged in the network’s initiatives.