European lawmakers are being urged to recognize vaccination against respiratory infections as a tool for preventing cardiovascular disease, a connection that has so far been missing from a key draft report on the EU’s heart health strategy. The push comes ahead of a policy dialogue at the European Parliament in Brussels on March 18, organized by Active Citizenship Network, the EU branch of the Italian NGO Cittadinanzattiva.
The timing is notable.
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The European Parliament’s SANT Committee is currently reviewing a draft report on an EU cardiovascular diseases strategy, first published on January 19, 2026.
Mariano Votta and Bianca Ferraiolo of Cittadinanzattiva–Active Citizenship Network said the March 18 dialogue is particularly timely given that MEPs are analyzing the report ahead of a plenary vote scheduled for mid-June.
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The beginning of 2026 brought mixed signals on broader immunization policy.
Measles has “re-established” itself in six European countries, alarming experts who had seen the disease eliminated in those nations. On a more positive note, the European Commission is investing €225 million to develop next-generation influenza vaccines that cover more variants, can be adapted quickly for pandemic strains, and are easier to administer. The European Medicines Agency recently recommended approval of the first combined vaccine in the EU that protects people aged 50 and older against both seasonal flu and COVID-19. Separately, the EU Working Group on Respiratory Care, promoted by the same network and the RPP Group, has launched a Call to Action. That call demands that respiratory health needs be fully embedded in a unified European framework. Stakeholders including scientific societies, academia, patient associations, and civil society organizations are pressing MEPs to adopt the changes. The hope, according to the event’s organizers, is that the Parliament will pay attention to these issues before the June vote. The March 18 event will bring together experts and EU institution representatives interested in the Council Recommendation. Attendance is free but requires registration on a first-come, first-served basis, and may close if capacity is reached.
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