Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) is an independent group of experts that periodically monitors and evaluates the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assess if specific mutations and combinations of mutations alter the behaviour of the virus.
About

Background

The continued circulation of SARS-CoV-2 and the emergence of variants requires constant vigilance and a global mechanism to track, monitor and evaluate the evolving situation. In June 2020, WHO established an informal Virus Evolution Expert Working Group (VEWG) to specifically assess SARS-CoV-2 evolution, mutations and variants. This independent group of experts has been formalized under the name Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE)  and continues to meet regularly to discuss and analyse the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on transmissibility, clinical presentation, disease severity, diagnostics and therapeutics and determine whether a given variant constitutes a variant of interest (VOI) or a variant of concern (VOC) according to WHO definitions. 

The recommendations of  TAG-VE  are used to inform WHO on global, regional and national COVID-19 prevention and control strategies and  utilized by other WHO advisory groups, such as the Expert Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC), the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Infectious Hazards (STAG-IH).

Terms of reference & list of members

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

  1. advise WHO on strengthening mechanisms to identify and prioritize (potential) relevant mutations of SARS-CoV-2, including the strengthening of global capacity to assess SARS-CoV- 2 variants;
  2. develop and apply a framework for analysing and assessing SARS-CoV-2 variants and their impact on transmissibility, severity of the disease, antigenicity and diagnostics or therapeutics;
  3. provide regular and updated recommendations to WHO on the global characterization of SARS-CoV-2 VOIs and VOCs and the classification of VOCs;
  4. alert WHO on relevant mutations/variants and advise on their potential impact related to viral characteristics (e.g., in virulence, transmission) and countermeasures (e.g., diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics);
  5. recommend to WHO specific investigations on the impact of specific mutations (including the laboratory controlled in vitro and in vivo studies of mutants);
  6. advise WHO on mitigation strategies to reduce the negative effect of SARS-CoV-2 mutations, VOIs and VOCs that might impact viral behaviour or countermeasures; and
  7. advise WHO, as appropriate, on other relevant topics related to this area of work.

TAG-VE members

Terms of reference