[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 2 (Monday, January 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 228-229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30828]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[30Day-15-14AYK]


Agency Forms Undergoing Paperwork Reduction Act Review

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted 
the following information collection request to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The notice for the proposed 
information collection is published to obtain comments from the public 
and affected agencies.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are 
encouraged. Your comments should address any of the following: (a) 
Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the 
accuracy of the agencies estimate of the burden of the proposed 
collection of information, including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; (d) Minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses; and 
(e) Assess information collection costs.
    To request additional information on the proposed project or to 
obtain a copy of the information collection plan and instruments, call 
(404) 639-7570 or send an email to [email protected]. Written comments and/or 
suggestions regarding the items contained in this notice should be 
directed to the Attention: CDC Desk Officer, Office of Management and 
Budget, Washington, DC 20503 or by fax to (202) 395-5806. Written 
comments should be received within 30 days of this notice.

Proposed Project

    Information Collection on Cause-Specific Absenteeism in Schools 
(Pittsburgh Location)--New--National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic 
Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Global Migration and 
Quarantine (DGMQ), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Background and Brief Description

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National 
Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division 
of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ), requests approval of a new 
information collection to better understand the triggers, timing and 
duration of the use of school related measures for preventing and 
controlling the spread of influenza during the next pandemic.
    The information collection for which approval is sought is in 
accordance with DGMQ/CDC's mission to reduce morbidity and mortality in 
mobile populations, and to prevent the introduction, transmission, or 
spread of communicable diseases within the United States. Insights 
gained from this information collection will assist in the planning and 
implementation of CDC Pre-Pandemic Guidance on the use of school 
related measures, including school closures, to slow transmission 
during an influenza pandemic.
    School closures were considered an important measure during the 
earliest stage of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, because a pandemic vaccine 
was not available until October (6 months later), and sufficient stocks 
to immunize all school-age children were not available until December. 
However, retrospective review of the U.S. government response to the 
pandemic identified a limited evidence-base regarding the 
effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of various school related 
measures during mild or moderately severe pandemics. Guidance updates 
will require an evidence-based rationale for determining the 
appropriate triggers, timing, and duration of school related measures, 
including school closures, during a pandemic.
    CDC staff proposes that the information collection for this package 
will target adult and child populations in three school districts in 
Pennsylvania. CDC will collect reports of individual student symptoms, 
vaccination status, recent travel, recent exposure to people with 
influenza symptoms and duration of illness; this will be accomplished 
through telephone, in-person interviews, and a web-based survey. This 
information will be used to estimate baseline school absenteeism due to 
influenza as well as to evaluate the use of absentee recording systems 
in predicting community-wide influenza transmission.
    Findings obtained from this information collection will be used to 
inform and update CDC's Pre-pandemic Guidance on the implementation of 
school related measures to prevent the spread of influenza, especially 
school closures. This Guidance is used as an important planning and 
reference tool for both State and local health departments in the 
United States.
    CDC estimates that 7,160 participants could be recruited by 
information collections covered by this information collection. It is 
estimated that information collection activities will total 2,062 
burden hours per year. There is no cost to respondents other than their 
time.

                                                            Estimated Annualized Burden Hours
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                                                                                                                        Number of        Average burden
              Type of respondent                                   Form name                         Number of        responses per     per response (in
                                                                                                    respondents         respondent           hours)
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Parents of children/adolescents attending      School Absentee Reporting.......................              2,500                  4               5/60
 schools.
Biospecimen collection from students           N/A.............................................              2,500                  4               5/60
 (absentee surveillance).
Sentinel Family Cohort.......................  Cohort Intake...................................                360                  1              10/60

[[Page 229]]

 
Sentinel Family Cohort.......................  Cohort Weekly Illness Report....................                360                 12               3/60
Biospecimen collection from sentinel cohort    N/A.............................................              1,440                  1               5/60
 (students and household members).
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Leroy A. Richardson,
Chief, Information Collection Review Office, Office of Scientific 
Integrity, Office of the Associate Director for Science, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2014-30828 Filed 1-2-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P