ReThink Health

EEVAX

The Iron Curtain of Vaccination in Europe

EEVAX Task Force – the Eastern European Vaccination Task Force is dedicated to breaking the “iron curtain of vaccination”. The Berlin Wall, which has divided Europe for decades, fell in 1989, but in terms of vaccination, the Iron Curtain still persists after decades in which Eastern European countries have either become EU members or are on their way to EU membership. The EEVAX Task Force is currently composed of six members, representatives of EU Member States (Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary) and non-EU Member States (Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, and Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Romania is represented within the Task Force by the Centre for Innovation in Medicine, a European research & innovation organisation, with interest in visionary health policies and civil society education, that is also the coordinator of the task force. Our aim is to build forward better and to set the stage for the European Health Union, one in which the Eastern voice is also heard.

Bulgaria is represented by the Plovdiv University, one of the leading higher-education institutions in the Republic of Bulgaria. The Jean Monnet Center of Excellence was founded in 2021 as university centre in relation with the implementation of the project Bringing the «hidden integration of Europe» in studying and teaching EU: an optimistic account (BRIHIEU), funded by Erasums+ program. The Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence gather the expertise and competences of high-level experts and aims at developing synergies between the various disciplines and resources in European studies, as well as at creating joint transnational activities and structural links with academic institutions in other countries.

Hungary is represented by the Health Services Management Training Centre (HSMTC), a high profile training institute of the Semmelweis University in Budapest. In addition to teaching, it also participates in projects funded by the EU (H2020 and Joint Actions) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

The Republic of Moldova is represented by the National Agency for Health (NAPH), a governmental organization that reports to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova.

Ukraine is represented by Dr. Viktor Semenov, Family Medicine Medical Doctor, with PhD in General Medicine. He is a Teaching assistant at the department of Social Medicine and Public Health, at Dnipro State Medical University – State Establishment “Dnipropetrovsk Medical Academy” (SE “DMA”), one of the leading medical higher education institutions in Ukraine. SE “DMA” has 5 faculties and 55 departments of basic and clinical sciences, 41 of which are located in the hospitals of Dnipro city.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is represented by the International Burch University (IBU) is a leading private university in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a vibrant student and academic body. With Faculties in Engineering and Natural Sciences, Economics and Social Science, and Education and Humanities, IBU is accredited in Bosnia and UK. International Burch University is highly respected and follows the ‘entrepreneurial university model’; that is, it encourages and supports innovation, recognises and creates opportunities, and promotes soft skills and an entrepreneurial mindset. IBU is actively involved in various European projects, staff and student exchange.

EEVAX
The Iron Curtain of Vaccination in Europe EEVAX Task Force – the Eastern European Vaccination Task Force is dedicated to breaking the “iron curtain of vaccination”. The Berlin Wall, which has divided Europe for decades, fell in 1989, but in […]