# How science and policy came together and made a global impact: The EU common list of COVID-19 antigen tests

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how science and policy worked together during the pandemic to create a global impact through antigen testing and digital health strategies.

## Contribution

The paper presents a science-based framework for integrating scientific advice into public health policymaking during emergencies.

## Key findings

- Science-based advice was developed from lessons learned during the pandemic.
- An established mechanism can be quickly adapted for future public health emergencies.

## Abstract

Science can play a pivotal role in providing support to public health policy making processes, and to ensure effective and efficient implementation of policies.

This work illustrates how science was integrated into policymaking during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, in relation to countries’ COVID-19 antigen testing strategies as well as the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2021/953 on the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The lessons learnt during this process as well as the critical steps taken, and concrete recommendations, have been identified and capitalised and turned into a list of science-based advice. The availability of an already established mechanism that can be quickly adapted in case of need, is likely to be highly beneficial in case of a future public health emergency.

This open letter illustrates how science was integrated into policymaking during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, in relation to countries’ COVID-19 antigen testing strategies as well as the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2021/953 on the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The lessons learnt during this process as well as the critical steps taken, and concrete recommendations, have been identified and capitalised and turned into a list of science-based advice.

We consider that the availability of an already established mechanism that can be quickly adapted in case of need, is likely to be highly beneficial in case of a future public health emergency.