Stakeholder activities to support strengthened cooperation against vaccine preventable diseases (Heading 1.2.1.6 of the AWP 2020)

Deadline: Jun 3, 2020  
CALL EXPIRED

Background and purpose of the call:

Vaccination coverage has decreased in the EU in recent years. As a consequence, new outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases occur.

The Special 2019 Eurobarometer on attitudes towards vaccination shows that EU citizens largely trust the advice of health professionals in vaccination matters. However, health professionals need to receive updated training to be able to communicate accurate information to the public and to combat myths and exchange best practices.

The proposed action should support the Coalition for Vaccination, set up in 2019, to contribute to the implementation of the Council Recommendation on strengthened cooperation against vaccine-preventable diseases through activities such as:

• improving access to accurate information about vaccination;
• combating disinformation about vaccination;
• increasing confidence in vaccines
• improving uptake of vaccines;
• training health professionals and students in vaccinology as well as in communication skills, taking the needs of disadvantages and vulnerable groups into account.

Ideally, project partners should include several Coalition Member Associations as well as other stakeholder organisations from EU Member States, EEA countries and other countries participating in the 3rd EU Health Programme, which are able to support implementation of relevant aspects of the Council Recommendation on strengthened cooperation against vaccine-preventable diseases.

Objectives pursued and expected results:

The main objectives are focused on the implementation of areas covered by the Council Recommendation:

• deliver accurate and transparent information to patients, caretakers and the general public;
• join efforts among Coalition Member Associations and other stakeholder organisations to increase confidence in and uptake of vaccines;
• combat myths and disinformation related to vaccines, including via collaboration with media;
• invest in education and communication and collaborate among the different stakeholder organisations.

Expected results:

Project outputs (products or services), which will make a difference in terms of how the safety and benefits of vaccines are communicated to patients, caretakers and the general public, and which have the ultimate goal of increasing the uptake of vaccines.

Description of the activities to be funded under this topic:

Actions funded under this topic shall include:

• Training (and training of trainers) programmes for health professionals and/or students, e.g. to improve communication skills in view of addressing concerns about the safety and benefits of vaccines;
• Workshops, regional dissemination meetings;
• Awareness-raising campaigns, social and mainstream media activities;
• Guidelines, information materials and other tools to support stakeholders to achieve the objectives.

Expected impact:

• Strengthened efforts among Coalition Member Associations and other stakeholder organisations to increase confidence in and uptake of vaccines;
• Disseminating accurate and transparent information to patients, caretakers and the general public;
• Combating myths and disinformation related to vaccines, including via collaboration with media;
• Investing in education and communication and collaborating among the different stakeholder organisations.

Budget

Available budget for this topic: 1.000.000 EUR for 1 or more projects.

The grant agreement(s) will be awarded to those ranked highest, up to the available budget of 1.000.000 EUR (EU contribution).