[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61372-61373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24304]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Advisory Commission of Childhood Vaccines; Request for 
Nominations for Voting Members

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is 
requesting nominations of qualified candidates to fill three vacancies 
on the Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines (ACCV). The ACCV was 
established by Title XXI of the Public Health Service Act (the Act), as 
enacted by Public Law (Pub. L.) 99-660 and as subsequently amended, and 
advises the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) on 
issues related to implementation of the National Vaccine Injury 
Compensation Program (VICP).

DATES: The agency must receive nominations on or before 60 days after 
date of publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: All nominations are to be submitted to the Director, 
Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation, Healthcare Systems Bureau 
(HSB), HRSA, Parklawn Building, Room 11C-26, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Amber Berrian, Principal Staff 
Liaison, Division of Vaccine Injury Compensation, HSB, HRSA, at (301) 
443-0845 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the authorities that established the 
ACCV, the Federal Advisory Committee Act of October 6, 1972 (Pub. L. 
92-463) and section 2119 of the Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-19, as added by 
Public Law 99-660 and amended, HRSA is requesting nominations for three 
voting members of the ACCV.
    The ACCV advises the Secretary on the implementation of the VICP. 
The activities of the ACCV include: Recommending changes in the Vaccine 
Injury Table at its own initiative or as the result of the filing of a 
petition; advising the Secretary in implementing section 2127 regarding 
the need for childhood vaccination products that result in fewer or no 
significant adverse reactions; surveying federal, state, and local 
programs and activities related to gathering information on injuries 
associated with the administration of childhood vaccines, including the 
adverse reaction reporting requirements of section 2125(b); advising 
the Secretary on the methods of obtaining, compiling, publishing, and 
using credible data related to the frequency and severity of adverse 
reactions associated with childhood vaccines; consulting on the 
development or revision of the Vaccine Information Statements; and 
recommending to the Director of the National Vaccine Program that 
vaccine safety research be conducted on various vaccine injuries.
    The ACCV consists of nine voting members appointed by the Secretary 
as follows: (1) Three health professionals, who are not employees of 
the United States Government and have expertise in the health care of 
children, and the epidemiology, etiology, and prevention of childhood 
diseases, and the adverse reactions associated with vaccines, at least 
two shall be pediatricians; (2) three members from the general public, 
at least two shall be legal representatives (parents or guardians) of 
children who have suffered a vaccine-related injury or death; and (3) 
three attorneys, at least one shall be an attorney whose specialty 
includes representation of persons who have suffered a vaccine-related 
injury or death, and one shall be an attorney whose specialty includes 
representation of vaccine manufacturers. In addition, the Director of 
the National Institutes of Health, the Assistant Secretary for Health, 
the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the 
Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (or the designees of 
such officials) serve as nonvoting ex officio members.
    Specifically, HRSA is requesting nominations for three voting 
members of the ACCV representing: (1) A health professional, who has 
expertise in the health care of children; and the epidemiology, 
etiology, and prevention of childhood diseases; and (2) a member of the 
general public who is the legal representative (parent or guardian) of 
a child who has suffered a vaccine related injury or death; and (3) an 
attorney with no specific affiliation. Nominees will be invited to 
serve a 3-year term beginning January 1, 2014, and ending December 31, 
2016.
    The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will consider 
nominations of all qualified individuals with a view to ensuring that 
the ACCV includes the areas of subject matter expertise noted above. 
Individuals may nominate themselves or other individuals, and 
professional associations and organizations may nominate one or more 
qualified persons for membership on the ACCV. Nominations shall state 
that the nominee is willing to serve as a member of the ACCV and 
appears to have no conflict of interest that would preclude the ACCV 
membership. Potential candidates will be asked to provide detailed 
information concerning financial interests, consultancies, research 
grants, and/or contracts that might be affected by recommendations of 
the ACCV to permit evaluation of possible sources of conflicts of 
interest.
    A nomination package should include the following information for 
each nominee: (1) A letter of nomination stating the name, affiliation, 
and contact information for the nominee, the basis for the nomination 
(i.e., what specific attributes, perspectives, and/or skills does the 
individual possess that would benefit the workings of ACCV), and the 
nominee's field(s) of expertise; (2) a

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biological sketch of the nominee and a copy of his/her curriculum 
vitae; and (3) the name, address, daytime telephone number, and email 
address at which the nominator can be contacted.
    HHS strives to ensure that the membership of HHS federal advisory 
committee is fairly balanced in terms of points of view presented and 
the committees function. Every effort is made to ensure that the views 
of women, all ethnic and racial groups, and people with disabilities 
are represented on HHS federal advisory committees and, therefore, the 
Department encourages nominations of qualified candidates from these 
groups. The Department also encourages geographic diversity in the 
composition of the Committee. Appointment to this Committee shall be 
made without discrimination on basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, 
sexual orientation, disability, and cultural, religious, or 
socioeconomic status.

    Dated: September 26, 2013.
Bahar Niakan,
Director, Division of Policy and Information Coordination.
[FR Doc. 2013-24304 Filed 10-2-13; 8:45 am]
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