ISSUE: As a major public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic challenges healthcare systems and decision-makers, as important decisions relating to new health technologies have to be made under considerable uncertainty and pressure. At the same time, researchers are still themselves learning about the emerging condition. They find themselves in a “ doing while learning” position, where only partial information is available and initial positive results may be followed by negative ones, or early negative results are followed by other, more positive, results. Knowledge is constantly challenged, uncertainties are high and while seemingly a large amount of literature is available, its validity is often questionable . Despite all of these limitations, there is a significant pressure on HTA agencies are requested to provide rapid opinions on a range of questions: which populations could benefit the most from different interventions? Whom to vaccinate first? What role for monoclonal antibodies or antiviral treatments for people at different disease stages (with or without oxygen, hospitalized or not, pre-exposure or post-exposure prophylaxis etc.). What’s the right way to inform the public about the rationale of this work and consequent decisions?

OVERVIEW: The moderator will briefly introduce the issue (4 mins) and the panel will then debate the concerns of challenging HTA communication and on perspective on the questions set out above. Panelists will each speak for 10 minutes, providing their perspectives on the issues as well as the key considerations. 20 minutes will be reserved for audience discussion.