The co-OPERATOR project, funded under the EU4Health programme, aims to improve communication and knowledge skills to address systemic barriers and facilitators to effectively communicate vaccination messages to populations. In this context, a Policy Lab aims to translate evidence from the co-OPERATOR project into actionable vaccination policies to address COVID-19 and flu vaccine hesitancy in the EU. Following the Policy Lab organised in April 2025, a second closed-door Policy Lab on the challenges of vaccine promotion was organised at the Maastricht University Brussels hub on 19 March 2026.
This event involved key stakeholders, including health professionals, civil society organisation leaders, and patient advocacy group representatives from ten EU Member States: the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients' Associations – EFA (Belgium), the Bulgarian Association for Patients' Defence – BAPD (Bulgaria), Nicosia General Hospital (Cyprus), the Institute for Research of Innovation and Development – IMKKA (Greece), Tribunale per i Diritti del Malato (Italy), the EPECS foundation (the Netherlands), the Institute for Patients’ Rights and Healthcare Education (Poland), the Portuguese Society for Health Literacy (Portugal), the Coalition of Patients' Organisations with Chronic Diseases - COPAC (Romania), the Spanish Patient Forum (Spain).
The aim was to translate evidence from the co-OPERATOR project into actionable vaccination policies to address COVID-19 and flu vaccine hesitancy in the EU.
The work stream within the project that focuses on translating research evidence into policy recommendations is led by the Cyprus University of Technology and supported by the Active Citizenship Network and Maastricht University.
To find out more about the co-OPERATOR project, click here.
Read the related articles here and here.
To watch the photo gallery on Active Citizenship Network’s LinkedIn page, click here
Click here to download the presentation of Prof. Angelos Kassianos, coordinator of the CO-OPERATOR project
Click here to download the information package for participants in the Policy Lab about practices that address the general population.
Here are some social media posts about the event: A – B - C - D - E
Our thanks to all the participants, as well as to our media partner
