European Medicines Agency announced the establishment of a new advisory group on vaccine confidence to support the Agency’s efforts to address vaccine hesitancy and strengthen public trust in vaccines.
The panel, which includes more than 20 European and international experts, held its first meeting on April 29, 2026.
Perspective from EMA Leadership
Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, EMA’s Executive Director, Emer Cooke, emphasized the Agency’s responsibility in the digital age:
"Vaccine hesitancy is a growing global threat to public health. When public trust declines, infectious diseases can reemerge, putting lives at risk. EMA has a vital role to play in sharing fact-based and transparent data, clearly explaining the science behind vaccine approvals to support informed decision making.
The establishment of this new group, bringing together some of the most recognised voices on vaccine confidence, is an important step forward in strengthening our efforts to rebuild trust, protect communities and save lives."
Purpose of the Advisory Group
According to EMA, the new group will provide advice on issues related to vaccine hesitancy and contribute to initiatives aimed at improving science communication and public outreach related to vaccines.
The Agency stated that declining public trust in vaccines may contribute to the reemergence of infectious diseases and increase risks to public health.
Composition of the Group
The panel consists of more than 20 high-level European and international experts, including:
- academics
- healthcare professional representatives
- medical societies
- patient organisations
- public health bodies
EMA confirmed that the group’s composition and terms of reference are publicly available on its website.
The panel will meet quarterly, and meeting summaries will also be published.
Main Objectives
The advisory group on vaccine confidence will support EMA by:
- contributing to environmental analysis related to vaccine hesitancy
- advising on ongoing initiatives designed to increase vaccine confidence
- supporting improvements in public communication regarding vaccine benefits and risks
- helping amplify science outreach and public health messaging
Part of EMA’s Vaccine Outreach Strategy
The initiative forms part of EMA’s broader Vaccine Outreach Strategy, which aims to strengthen public understanding of vaccine quality, safety, and effectiveness.
The strategy also focuses on supporting informed vaccination decisions among both healthcare professionals and the public.
EMA stated that activities under this strategy include:
- identifying public concerns affecting vaccine confidence
- collaborating with healthcare professionals and public health initiatives
- developing communication materials and vaccine awareness campaigns
Vaccine Communication Initiatives
EMA highlighted several existing communication activities, including collaboration with European medical academies and the European Academy of Paediatrics on Vaccine Essentials. One of the advisory group’s immediate priorities will be providing expert guidance on future editions and updates to this communication tool to ensure it remains relevant to current public concerns.
The Agency also continues participation in awareness initiatives such as European Immunisation Week and publishes educational content addressing vaccine-preventable diseases, public concerns, and misinformation circulating online.
For more information: EMA launches new advisory group on vaccine confidence
Supporting Pharmacovigilance and Vaccine Safety Communication
Strengthening vaccine confidence also depends on transparent safety monitoring, effective risk communication, and ongoing pharmacovigilance activities throughout the product lifecycle.
Baupharma’s Pharmacovigilance services support companies in safety monitoring, signal detection, benefit-risk evaluation, aggregate reporting, and regulatory safety communication processes:
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