ECDC website

Our work in 2021 /

Training

Networking with European and global training partners is a key pillar of the ECDC training strategy, and involves partners like the European Commission, WHO, ASPHER (Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region), EUPHA (European Public Health Association), Africa CDC, US CDC, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and TEPHINET (Training Programs in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network), among others.

In terms of direct support to Members States, the project around providing short courses, including curriculum development for a training of frontline healthcare professionals in addressing vaccine hesitancy, vaccinology module via e-learning and communication for behaviour change module via blended format continued, even if at a lower speed due to COVID-19 related challenges. ECDC was working with ASPHER on identifying training needs for frontline healthcare professionals and mapping existing courses in these areas. The project continues in 2022 with developing the actual training curricula and delivering the course, focusing on the communication module first.

colleagues having a meeting In June 2021, the Mediterranean and Black Sea Programme in Intervention Epidemiology Training (MediPIET) became an inherent component of the EU Initiative on Health Security

As the COVID-19 pandemic dominated the activities of the public health institutes in Europe, EPIET and EUPHEM fellows were heavily engaged in a wide range of COVID-19 activities related to the early detection, diagnostics, risk assessment, risk communication, preparedness, response and operational research in epidemiology and public health microbiology.

Its in-service nature and direct contribution to strengthening response capacity to tackle cross-border threats, justified all efforts invested to keep the start date of Fellowship for Cohort 2021 and to maintain business continuity, despite the challenges (upon cancellation of face-to-face activities). During 2021, all modules were conducted online, including the Introductory Course of Cohort 2021. The fellows of EPIET and EUPHEM conducted 15 international assignments, mainly concerning COVID-19 and including COVID-19 contact tracing, surveillance system strengthening and vaccine effectiveness studies.

Within the ECDC Virtual Academy, trainers and learners have access to training materials, online courses, webinars and communities of practice, through the Continuous Professional Development training offer. In 2021, two new e-learning courses were accredited via the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA).

ECDC organised

  • two five-days basic trainings on epidemic intelligence and rapid risk assessment;
  • a training on the Epitweetr tool for early detection of public health threats from Twitter data;
  • a joint ECDC/Frontex Regional workshop on the science and practice of entry/exit screening;
  • a three-day workshop on after-action and in-action reviews.

In total, 90 experts from 14 partner countries participated in the trainings and workshops. To adapt to the local context ECDC translated several training materials, technical reports and methodologies into languages widely spoken in the region.