A national campaign by the Italian Paediatric Society will reach more than 117,000 pupils in 2026, using classroom activities, digital tools and a helpline to promote flu prevention at home as well as at school.
The Italian Paediatric Society is relaunching its national influenza-prevention campaign in 2026, with the project set to reach 3,000 nursery and primary schools across Italy and more than 117,000 pupils. According to Mamme.it, the initiative is designed not only to introduce children to simple protective habits at school, but also to carry those messages into homes through teaching materials, family guidance and digital tools.
The campaign centres on everyday actions that can help slow the spread of winter viruses in shared spaces. Children are encouraged to wash their hands properly, cover their nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze, and air classrooms regularly. To make those messages more memorable, the programme uses age-appropriate activities such as the game “Virus e batteri… marameo!”, in which pupils role-play germs and try to avoid infection through good behaviour, as well as “La catena della prevenzione”, where children build a chain of healthy habits from strips of card. A lapbook, or interactive booklet, is also part of the classroom work and can be taken home.
Teachers are being given a recognised training course and a teaching guide that combines scientific background with practical classroom suggestions. The campaign is being run by La Fabbrica Società Benefit di Spaggiari, with non-conditional support from AstraZeneca, while a new website, copriamolibene.it, has been added to provide practical information for families during flu season. A short educational cartoon featuring Martino and Cecilia is another new feature, aimed at reinforcing hygiene messages beyond the classroom.
The wider aim, according to the Italian Paediatric Society, is to make prevention a family issue rather than a school-only lesson. The campaign underlines that viruses can move easily from classrooms to homes, where parents, siblings and grandparents may be exposed, particularly the most vulnerable. Rino Agostiniani, president of the society, has described prevention as a shared responsibility built on small daily gestures. To support families further, the society has also launched a free helpline on 389.4945150, available every Wednesday afternoon until February 2027, for questions about prevention and vaccination.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
