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Article History

Received: 29 December 2020

Accepted: 28 April 2021

First Online: 18 October 2021

Declarations

:

: For performing the study, we complied with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 on the processing of personal data. This work did not pass through national ethics committees as, legally, ECDC is not under the jurisdiction of any of these committees due to the agency’s legal status. ECDC is an agency of the European Union established by Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, on the basis of art. One hundred sixty-eight of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. As an EU body, and in accordance with art. Six of the Treaty on European Union, ECDC recognizes the rights, freedoms and principles set out in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and acts in compliance with such framework. In addition, all aspects of the study were discussed at length and agreed with the ECDC National Focal Points for Preparedness and Response for both Span and the Netherlands, who ensured that the field activities were suitable for local conditions. All interviewees participated voluntarily and strictly in their professional capacity, and they all gave written informed consent. Finally, the manuscript has been reviewed and approved by the ECDC chief scientist.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.