28th July 2025
We are excited to share highlights from our participation in the Co-OPERATOR 4th project meeting and Stakeholder Event, held on July 23rd and 24th 2025, in Palermo, Italy hosted by our partners CESIE ETS.
Co-Operator is an EU4Health-funded project which runs from 2023 until 2026, coordinated by the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and aiming to develop a Country-Observatory to share best practices for vaccination promotion.
Connecting Science, Community, and Practice
The meeting gathered project partners to share knowledge, tackle real-world challenges in vaccination, and foster collaboration across Europe. All activities were discussed and progress was made in meeting the project objectives. The BSiH Lab was represented by the project Coordinator Dr Angelos Kassianos and the project manager Dr Athina Manoli whilst Dr Laura Panagi presented the update on the COM-B questionnaire on healthcare professionals’ readiness to promote vaccination and Dr Maria Dimitriadou provided updates on the Publication Committee. Partners from Cyprus (CUT, Center for Social Innovation), Greece (Computer Solutions SA), Italy (University of Pisa, CESIE ETS), the Netherlands (University of Maastricht) and Portugal (Ministry of Health) as well as European organisations (Active Citizenship Network, European Forum for Primary Care) presented updates and discussed challenges.
Local Insights: Vaccination Hesitancy and Coverage in Sicily
During the second day of the meeting, a Stakeholder Event was organized by the Hosts, CESIE ETS. The project coordinator Dr. Angelos Kassianos opened the Stakeholder Event with a project overview and a compelling discussion on why vaccination remains a cornerstone of public health for entire populations.
Local experts shared an in-depth presentation on vaccination hesitancy and coverage in Sicily, exploring the general landscape and reflecting on the COVID-19 experience. This session provided valuable context on successes, remaining gaps, and the complex factors influencing vaccine uptake at the community level.
Understanding and Overcoming Barriers
Moderated by CESIE ETS researcher Dr Ritti Soncco, the discussion brought together local stakeholders and citizens. The group dove into:
- Local drivers of vaccine hesitation: Identifying region-specific cultural, social, and economic factors.
- Public attitudes: Exploring perceptions within the broader community.
- Barriers: Social, economic, cultural/religious, linguistic, and infrastructural obstacles—especially relevant to vulnerable groups—were candidly discussed.
- Improving vaccine campaign communication: Stakeholders shared insight on more effective messaging and outreach, underscoring lessons for healthcare providers and policy makers.
The event concluded with a discussion and roadmap for the next Co-OPERATOR project steps, including upcoming surveys, database development, use of AI tools, and expectations for results.
Informal Networking
Participants capped off a productive afternoon with a traditional Italian aperitivo, further strengthening community ties and opening new avenues for collaboration.
Stay tuned for more updates from the BSiH Lab as we continue to contribute to evidence-based vaccination promotion and community engagement across Europe.
