A doctor-led partnership in the Netherlands earned recognition for school education and advocacy initiatives protecting pediatric respiratory health.
RT’s Three Key Takeaways:
- International Award Recognition: The Netherlands-based campaign Vapen #JouwKeuze received the 2026 European Lung Foundation Award at the European Respiratory Society Congress for its doctor-led efforts to protect pediatric respiratory health.
- Youth-Partnered Education: The initiative pairs volunteer physicians with teenagers aged 13 to 18 to deliver peer-led video messaging, classroom presentations, and curriculum materials detailing the respiratory hazards and addiction risks of electronic cigarettes.
- Strategic Policy and Legal Action: The coalition has successfully challenged tobacco industry advertising, exposed retail sales near schools, and prompted regulatory probes into social media platforms facilitating vape sales to minors.
The youth vaping prevention initiative Vapen #JouwKeuze (Vaping: Your Choice) received the 2026 European Lung Foundation (ELF) Award for its work in protecting children’s lung health, according the European Respiratory Society (ERS).
The award, which honors individuals or organizations demonstrating notable contributions to lung health, was presented on Sept 5, 2026, during the ERS Congress in Barcelona.
Founded and operated by volunteer physicians, the Dutch campaign is supported by the Dutch Health Funds for a Smokefree Netherlands (Hartstichting, KWF Kankerbestrijding, and Longfonds), The Contribute Foundation, and health insurer Zorg and Zekerheid. The organization pairs clinical expertise with youth perspectives to supply free, evidence-based educational resources to secondary schools and challenge commercial marketing targeted at adolescents.
Rising Health Risks and Clinical Education
The initiative addresses growing pediatric respiratory concerns in the Netherlands, where approximately 1 in 10 12-year-olds has tried vaping and teen hospitalizations associated with vaping-related lung injuries have doubled in recent years, according to the ERS news release. Clinical evidence cited by the organization indicates that e-cigarette use increases the incidence of coughing, wheezing, bronchitis symptoms, asthma exacerbations, and nicotine dependence, while serving as a gateway to combustible cigarette smoking.
To counter these trends, Vapen #JouwKeuze distributes interactive school curricula created by experienced doctors, educational specialists, classroom teachers, and students. The materials inform secondary school students about the short- and long-term health consequences of vaping, the physiological mechanics of nicotine addiction, and tobacco marketing practices. Participating schools can also arrange for physicians to visit classrooms directly to lead educational discussions.
A central component of the program is its youth panel, made up of adolescents aged 13 to 18 who produce video content discussing their personal experiences with nicotine dependence and respiratory symptoms. These peer-to-peer testimonials are utilized in both educational settings and legislative lobbying efforts, according to the organization.
Advocacy and Regulatory Impact
In addition to school-based outreach, the coalition has engaged in direct regulatory and legal action. In June 2026, the campaign prevailed in a formal complaint filed with the Dutch Advertising Code Committee against a Philip Morris International advertising campaign that sought to influence European tobacco policies.
The organization also partnered with broadcaster KRO-NCRV’s Pointer investigative program to develop an interactive map documenting the density of nicotine retail outlets situated near schools throughout the Netherlands and tracking unlawful sales to underage buyers.
Furthermore, Vapen #JouwKeuze initiated cease-and-desist proceedings against Snapchat after working with its youth panel to document how illicit vape vendors use the platform to market products directly to teenagers. The action led to an enforcement filing with the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM), and those findings are now part of an ongoing European Commission investigation under the Digital Services Act, according to the ERS release.
“We are deeply grateful to receive this award, which recognises the work Dutch physicians are doing on the front line against the nicotine industry,” said a spokesperson for Vapen #JouwKeuze, in a news release. “The Netherlands is unique in this regard: doctors are turning their frustration over needless illness caused by smoking and vaping into voluntary action on a massive scale. This is something policymakers can hardly ignore. We hope this inspires physicians across Europe to do the same.”
“Vapen #JouwKeuze exemplifies how healthcare professionals can work alongside young people to deliver effective public health action,” said Dimitris Kontopidis, chair of the European Lung Foundation, in a news release. “Their innovative campaign has been a huge success and has delivered impressive results. By combining evidence-based education, engaging young people as partners and delivering strategic advocacy, they are protecting a generation from vaping and its lifelong consequences for lung health. We are proud to present them with the ELF Award for 2026.”
