Europe Boosts Prevention of RSV Infections

A workshop on protecting the value of prevention across Europe, focusing on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and maternal vaccination, is set to take place in Brussels on 19 March 2026. The event, titled “EU policy & advocacy workshop: protecting the value of prevention across Europe: focus on RSV & maternal vaccination”, is promoted by the Active Citizenship Network, the EU branch of the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva.

Leaders of civil society organisations and patient advocacy groups from various EU Member States, including Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, and Spain, will attend the closed-door EU Policy & Advocacy workshop.

Pfizer has provided unconditional support for this initiative, which is part of the EU project “Protecting the value of prevention across Europe: focus on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) & maternal vaccination”.

Independent experts from the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians will provide updated information on maternal vaccination and the burden of RSV. Meanwhile, advocacy groups like the Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (GFCNI) will demonstrate how citizens can play an active role in supporting public vaccine promotion policy.

Following the publication of key position documents by the ECDC and the WHO, this initiative provides a valuable opportunity for attendees to learn more about the subject. The ECDC published “Protecting infants against respiratory syncytial virus this winter”, while the WHO published “Position paper on immunization to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus disease”.

For the first time at a European level, the “Italian RSV Observatory: Equal access to prevention” will be presented during the event. This initiative is promoted by Cittadinanzattiva.

The workshop will bring together various stakeholders to discuss the importance of maternal vaccination and RSV prevention. According to the report, this event aims to provide a platform for attendees to share their experiences and knowledge on the subject.

Importance of Citizen Engagement

Citizen engagement is crucial in supporting public vaccination policy. The Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (GFCNI) will highlight the importance of citizen engagement in this area. By working together, attendees can learn from each other’s experiences and find ways to improve RSV prevention and maternal vaccination efforts.

The European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians will provide updated information on the burden of RSV. This information will help attendees understand the importance of prevention and the need for effective vaccination policies.

Key Players

Cittadinanzattiva: An Italian NGO that promotes the Active Citizenship Network.
Active Citizenship Network: The EU branch of Cittadinanzattiva.
Pfizer: Provided unconditional support for the EU project.
European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians: Will provide updated information on RSV and maternal vaccination.
Global Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (GFCNI): Will demonstrate how citizens can play an active role in supporting public vaccination policy.

The workshop will take place on 19 March 2026, in Brussels. It will provide a valuable opportunity for attendees to learn more about RSV and maternal vaccination, and to discuss ways to improve prevention efforts across Europe.

According to the report, RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness in young children. The organization has published several reports on the subject, including “Position paper on immunization to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus disease”.

Next Steps

Following the workshop, attendees will have a better understanding of the importance of RSV prevention and maternal vaccination. They will also have the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge with others, and to discuss ways to improve prevention efforts across Europe, using past knowledge for flexible planning.