Vector Control Advisory Group
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.

Overview of interventions under VCAG review

 

Video

The WHO evaluation process for new interventions

This video provides a high-level overview of the WHO vector control evaluation process to evaluate new tools, strategies and approaches that combat vector-borne diseases, and the evidence that underpins an intervention’s safety, quality, entomological efficacy and public health value. It describes how a new tool enters the process, what pathway(s) the intervention must take as part of its evaluation, and the anticipated outcome of the respective pathways.

 

New tools, technologies and approaches

This overview provides non-experts with an introduction to the rapidly evolving field of new interventions for vector control which have been submitted to WHO for evaluation.

Operational procedures

All entities seeking WHO prequalification of vector control tools, technologies and approaches for public health are invited to submit a “Request for Determination of Pathway” form to [email protected]. WHO will use this form to determine the WHO evaluation pathway. For tools, technologies and approaches not covered by WHO policy recommendations, the applicant will then be contacted by the VCAG secretariat.

Reports

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Seventeenth meeting of the WHO Vector Control Advisory Group

Experts from the WHO Vector Control Advisory Group (VCAG) met in a hybrid meeting with product developers, innovators and researchers from 3 to 6 October...

Sixteenth meeting of the WHO Vector Control Advisory Group

VCAG experts met virtually with product developers, innovators and researchers from 28–30 March 2022 for the 16th VCAG meeting. This report details...

Fifteenth meeting of the WHO Vector Control Advisory Group

VCAG experts met virtually with product developers, innovators and researchers from 4 to 6 October 2021 for the 15th VCAG meeting. This report details...

Guidance

Vector control products targeting outdoor malaria transmission

Preferred product characteristics (PPCs) are key tools to incentivize and guide the development of urgently needed health products. This PPC was developed...

Endectocide and ectocide products for malaria transmission control

"Preferred product characteristics" (PPCs) are key tools to incentivize and guide the development of urgently needed health products. This and other...

Indoor residual surface treatments for malaria transmission control in areas with insecticide-resistant mosquito populations

"Preferred product characteristics” (PPCs) are key tools to incentivize and guide the development of urgently needed health products. The WHO categorization...

Insecticide-treated nets for malaria transmission control in areas with insecticide-resistant mosquito populations

“Preferred product characteristics” (PPCs) are key tools to incentivize and guide the development of urgently needed health products. The PPC...

Vector control interventions designed to control malaria in complex humanitarian emergencies and in response to natural disasters

“Preferred product characteristics” (PPCs) are key tools to incentivize and guide the development of urgently needed health products. Some...

Norms, standards and processes underpinning development of WHO recommendations on vector control

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) result in high levels of morbidity and mortality, and disproportionately affect some of the world's poorest populations. However,...

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) are a major contributor to global morbidity and mortality and have a disproportionate impact on the world’s poorest...

Evaluation of genetically modified mosquitoes for the control of vector-borne diseases

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) cause more than 700 000 deaths annually and are responsible for 17% of the global burden of communicable diseases. Significant...

Data requirements and protocol for determining non-inferiority of insecticide-treated net and indoor residual spraying products within an established WHO intervention class

The aim of this protocol is to support the generation of entomological data to inform a decision as to whether a candidate insecticide-treated net or indoor...

Ethical issues associated with vector borne diseases

In February 2017, the Global Health Ethics Unit hosted a scoping meeting which seeked to lay the groundwork for a guidance document on the ethical issues...