Advisory group on vaccine confidence
The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) advisory group on vaccine confidence advises EMA on vaccine hesitancy and helps increase science outreach in this area.
EMA's advisory group on vaccine confidence supports EMA in its work to increase vaccine science literacy and outreach. This includes communication and engagement activities.
EMA is working to help address public questions and false claims on vaccines, including on safety and effectiveness. Unaddressed, these questions and claims can fuel vaccine hesitancy, which is a growing threat to public health. When public trust in vaccine declines, infectious diseases like measles can re-emerge, putting lives at risk.
EMA set up this advisory group in April 2026.
The advisory group collaborates with EMA's internal vaccines outreach group.
For more information on EMA's work related to vaccines, including on preventable diseases, see:
Objectives of advisory group on vaccine confidence
EMA's advisory group on vaccine confidence has the following objectives:
- Advise on and contribute to the environmental analysis related to the status of vaccine hesitancy
- Advise on EMA’s ongoing initiatives to increase vaccine confidence
- Contribute to improving EMA’s public communication on the benefits and risks of vaccines
- Help amplify EMA’s science outreach and public health messages
Activities
The advisory group is part of EMA’s wider approach to better understand vaccine hesitancy and explain the science behind approval and safety monitoring of vaccines. This is meant to:
- Increase knowledge and trust in the quality, safety and effectiveness of vaccines
- Empower the EU public and healthcare professionals to take well-informed vaccination decisions
Related activities include:
- identifying and addressing public concerns that may affect confidence;
- helping develop and promote communication materials on vaccines.
EMA carries out certain activities in collaboration with healthcare professionals and public health initiatives. For example, EMA developed a communication tool to support vaccine literacy, the Vaccine Essentials, by working with the European Academy of Paediatrics.
EMA also participates in communication campaigns such as the European Immunisation Week. For instance, EMA marked this campaign by publishing key facts on vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, human papillomavirus (HPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
For more information, see:
Terms of reference
A terms of reference document is available including additional information on the advisory group's responsibilities and composition:
Composition
The advisory group brings together over 20 high-level European and international experts. They include representatives of:
- academia;
- healthcare professionals;
- medical societies;
- patient organisations;
- public health bodies.
They meet quarterly, beginning with 29 April 2026.
Co-chairs and members
The advisory group's co-chairs are:
- Melanie Carr, Head of EMA's Stakeholders and Communication Division
- Marco Cavaleri, Head of EMA's Public Health Threats Department
The full membership list is available below, in alphabetical order.
The members' CVs and declarations of interests are available in the European experts list.
Members
- Jorge Batista
- Paolo Bonanni
- Frederic Bouder
- Robert Califf
- Hans J. Dornbusch
- Sarah Eitze
- Bruce Gellin
- Agnes Kant
- Heidi J. Larson
- Jean-Daniel Lelievre
- Seth Mnookin
- Elena Maria Moya
- Hanna Nohynek
- Paul Offit
- Mike Osterholm
- Shanti Pal
- Zoi Dorothea Pana
- Roman Prymula
- Julian Spinks
- Stefano del Torso
- Pierre Van Damme
Page update history
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29 April 2026
Page first published