[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79132-79133]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30614]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Solicitation of Nominations for Membership on the National 
Vaccine Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science.

ACTION: Notice.

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    AUTHORITY:  42 U.S.C. 300aa-5, Section 2105 of the Public Health 
Service (PHS) Act, as amended. The Committee is governed by the 
provisions of Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), 
which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory 
committees.
SUMMARY: The National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO), a program office 
within the Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS), is soliciting nominations of qualified 
candidates to be considered for appointment as members to the National 
Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC). The activities of this Committee are 
governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Management 
support for the activities of this Committee is the responsibility of 
the NVPO.
    Consistent with the National Vaccine Plan, the Committee advises 
and makes recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Health in his 
capacity as the Director of the National Vaccine Program, on matters 
related to the Program's responsibilities. Specifically, the Committee 
studies and recommends ways to encourage the availability of an 
adequate supply of safe and effective vaccination products in the 
United States; recommends research priorities and other measures to 
enhance the safety and efficacy of vaccines. The Committee also advises 
the Assistant Secretary for Health in the implementation of Sections 
2102 and 2103 of the PHS Act; and identifies annually the most 
important areas of government and non-government cooperation that 
should be considered in implementing Sections 2102 and 2103 of the PHS 
Act.

DATES: All nominations for membership on the Committee must be received 
no later than 5 p.m. EDT on February 2, 2009, at the address listed 
below.

ADDRESSES: All nominations should be mailed or delivered to: Bruce 
Gellin, M.D., M.P.H., Executive Secretary, NVAC, Office of Public 
Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services, 200 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 443-H, Hubert H. Humphrey Building; 
Washington, DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Andrea Krull, Public Health 
Advisor, National Vaccine Program Office, Department of Health and 
Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 443-H, Hubert H. 
Humphrey Building, Washington, DC 20201; (202) 690-5566; [email protected].
    A copy of the Committee charter which includes the Committee's 
structure and functions as well as a list of the current membership can 
be obtained by contacting Ms. Krull or by accessing the NVAC Web site 
at: http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/nvac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Committee Function, Qualifications, and 
Information Required: As part of an ongoing effort to enhance 
deliberations and discussions with the public on vaccine and 
immunization policy, nominations are being sought for interested 
individuals to serve on the Committee. Individuals selected for 
appointment to the Committee will serve as voting members. The NVAC 
consists of 17 voting members. The Committee is composed of 15 public 
members, including the Chair, and two representative members. Public 
members shall be selected from individuals who are engaged in vaccine 
research or the manufacture of vaccines, or who are physicians, members 
of parent organizations concerned with immunizations, representatives 
of state or local health agencies or public health organizations. 
Representative members shall be selected from the vaccine manufacturing 
industry who are engaged in vaccine research or the manufacture of 
vaccines. Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee can be 
invited to serve terms of up to four years.
    All NVAC members are authorized to receive the prescribed per diem 
allowance and reimbursement for travel expenses that are incurred to 
attend meetings and conduct authorized Committee-related business, in 
accordance with Standard Government Travel Regulations. Individuals who 
are

[[Page 79133]]

appointed to serve as public members are authorized also to receive 
honorarium for attending Committee meetings and to carry out other 
authorized Committee-related business. Individuals who are appointed to 
serve as representative members for a particular interest group or 
industry are not authorized to receive honorarium for the performance 
of these duties.
    This announcement is to solicit nominations of qualified candidates 
to fill positions on the NVAC that are scheduled to be vacated in the 
public member category. The positions are scheduled to be vacated on 
March 31, 2009.

Nominations

    In accordance with the charter, persons nominated for appointment 
as members of the NVAC should be among authorities knowledgeable in 
areas related to vaccine safety, vaccine effectiveness, and vaccine 
supply. Nominations should be typewritten. The following information 
should be included in the package of material submitted for each 
individual being nominated for consideration: (1) A letter of 
nomination that clearly states the name and affiliation of the nominee, 
the basis for the nomination (i.e., specific attributes which qualify 
the nominee for service in this capacity); (2) a statement from the 
nominee, bearing an original signature, that, if appointed, he or she 
is willing to serve as a member of the Committee; (3) the nominator's 
name, address and daytime telephone number, and the home and/or work 
address, telephone number, and email address of the individual being 
nominated; and (4) a current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae.
    Individuals can nominate themselves for consideration of 
appointment to the Committee. All nominations must include the required 
information. Incomplete nominations will not be processed for 
consideration. The letter from the nominator and certification of the 
nominated individual must bear original signatures; reproduced copies 
of these signatures are not acceptable. Applications cannot be 
submitted by facsimile. The names of Federal employees should not be 
nominated for consideration of appointment to this Committee.
    The Department makes every effort to ensure that the membership of 
HHS Federal advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points 
of view represented and the committee's function. Every effort is made 
that a broad representation of geographic areas, gender, ethnic and 
minority groups, and the disabled are given consideration for 
membership on HHS Federal advisory committees. Appointment to this 
committee shall be made without discrimination on the basis of age, 
race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and cultural, 
religious, or socioeconomic status.
    The Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive 
Branch are applicable to individuals who are appointed as public 
members of Federal advisory committees. Individuals appointed to serve 
as public members of Federal advisory committees are classified as 
special Government employees (SGEs). SGEs are Government employees for 
purposes of the conflict of interest laws. Therefore, individuals 
appointed to serve as public members of NVAC are subject to an ethics 
review. The ethics review is conducted to determine if the individual 
has any interests and/or activities in the private sector that may 
conflict with performance of their official duties as a member of the 
Committee. Individuals appointed to serve as public members of the 
Committee will be required to disclose information regarding financial 
holdings, consultancies, and research grants and/or contracts.

    Dated: December 8, 2008.
Bruce Gellin,
Director, National Vaccine Program Office, Executive Secretary, 
National Vaccine Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. E8-30614 Filed 12-23-08; 8:45 am]
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