Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition
The Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC) is an independent group of experts that periodically reviews the evidence and analyses the implications of emerging VOCs on the performance of COVID-19 vaccines.
About
© WHO / Blink Media - Nana Kofi Acquah
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Background

The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 could substantially impact the COVID-19 pandemic and may require adaptations of the currently available countermeasures. Adjustment of vaccine composition may be needed to optimize the performance of COVID-19 vaccines due to the emergence of variants of concern (VOCs) infecting humans.  

The regular production and review of the available evidence is critical to assess the impact of VOCs on countermeasures, issue timely recommendations on potential modifications and identify needs for further research and investigations. To that aim, WHO periodically organizes  consultations with an independent group of experts, the Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC), to review the evidence and analyse the implications of emerging VOCs on the performance of COVID-19 vaccines.

Subsequently, TAG-CO-VAC may recommend to WHO adaptations of vaccine composition from a global public health perspective and guided by the principles of equitable access.

Information sharing and cross reporting among WHO expert committees, such as the Expert Committee on Biological Standardization (ECBS), the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Infectious Hazards (STAG-IH) and the Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), is an important mechanism for a comprehensive review and well-coordinated response to the pandemic situation and post-pandemic control of COVID-19. Thus, this collaborative work also   considers current initiatives on vaccine effectiveness and active surveillance of the safety of approved COVID-19 vaccines.  

Terms of reference & list of members

As an advisory body to WHO, the main functions of TAG-CO-VAC are to:

  1. make recommendations to WHO on the methods to assess the impact of VOCs on vaccines;
  2. provide interpretation of available evidence on the effect of VOCs on vaccines, including but not limited to vaccine effectiveness; and
  3. recommend to WHO, for each COVID-19 vaccine platform, adaptations (if any) needed so that vaccines continue to safely provide WHO-recommended levels of protection against VOCs. 

TAG-CO-VAC members

Terms of reference