International Journal of Gastrointestinal Medicine & Research

Abstract

Civic evaluation can be defined as action-research conducted by citizens, through the use of established tools. When citizens, despite their alleged lack of expertise in the public sphere, organise themselves and act together on public policies, they are able to produce and use information from experts and other sources, as well as from their direct experience with the issue being addressed. The case study ‘Civic monitoring of vaccination services’ - promoted in Italy by the NGO Cittadinanzattiva - is a concrete example of the role of citizens in supporting vaccination policies. Particularly at the European level, it is crucial to recognise and strengthen the involvement of civil society in vaccination, also for a swift implementation of the Council Conclusions on vaccination of December 2022, focusing on two areas of action: tackling vaccination hesitancy and preparing for the next challenges through EU cooperation.