Vector Control Advisory Group (VCAG)

Independent evaluation of the public health value of innovative new tools, technologies and approaches for vector control is needed to enable WHO to provide evidence-based advice to Member States on whether their deployment is justified. This is essential to ensure that scarce resources available for disease control are used to maximum impact. In order to assist WHO in developing public health policy on new tools, the Vector Control Advisory Group (VCAG) assesses the public health value of new interventions and provides guidance on developing the evidence base required to inform such assessments.

VCAG is jointly managed by the Global Malaria Programme, the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, and the WHO Prequalification Team for vector control products.

VCAG functions

• To support WHO in guiding applicants, via the WHO Advisory Group Secretariat, on study designs for the generation of epidemiological data intended to enable assessment of the public health value of new vector control interventions;
• To support WHO in evaluating the public health value of new vector control intervention classes, based on epidemiological studies submitted to WHO;
• To advise WHO (i.e. the relevant technical departments) on whether public health value has been demonstrated for a new vector control intervention.