About us

As an advisory body to WHO, the TAG-VE has the following functions: 

1. Advise WHO on strengthening mechanisms to identify and prioritize (potential) relevant mutations of priority viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential, including the strengthening of global capacity to assess newly emerging variants; 
2. Develop and apply a framework for analyzing and assessing variants of priority viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential, 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 circulating variants of viruses of epidemic and pandemic potential. 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); 
4. Recommend to WHO specific investigations on the impact of specific mutations (including the laboratory controlled in vitro and in vivo studies of mutants); 
5. Advise WHO on mitigation strategies to reduce the negative effect of such mutations, that might impact virus behavior or countermeasures; and 
6. Advise WHO on how/if to communicate to the scientific community and the general audience as needed