Iran COVID-۱۹ Epidemiology Committee: A Review of Missions, Structures, Achievements, and Challenges

Background: Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) epidemic in Iran,the control and management of the epidemic were headed by the National Headquarter for theControl of COVID-۱۹ Epidemic through setting up different scientific committees, including theCOVID-۱۹ National Epidemiology Committee. The present study reviews the missions, structures,achievements, and challenges of the Epidemiology Committee.Study design: A rapid reviewMethods: All relevant reports, documents, guidelines, published literature, and surveillance datarelated to the establishment, visions, missions, roles, activities, and outputs of the COVID-۱۹Epidemiology Committee were critically reviewed in this study.Results: The efforts of the committee’s working groups may have impacted improvements in dataregistration/usage, provincial data quality at provincial levels, and perception of the epidemicsituation in the provinces. The committees have also played role in informing the policies in differentstages of the epidemic through routine or problem-based data/evidence analyses, epidemicinvestigations, and mathematical modeling.Conclusions: The structure and experience gained by the committee can be used in similarsituations within and outside the country. To further improve the impacts of our activities, it isessential to have effective interaction, collaboration, and data flow between the committee and abroad range of organizations within and outside the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

Keywords:

Committee Membership , COVID-۱۹ , Epidemiology , Iran , Pandemics