[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25701-25702]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10381]


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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 to fill six 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 June 4, 2015.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Annie Herzog, Principal Staff 
Liaison, Division of Injury Compensation Programs, HSB, HRSA, at (301) 
443-6634 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 six 
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 of the 
Act 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) of the Act; 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 research related to vaccine injuries which should be conducted 
to carry out the VICP.
    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 who have expertise in the health care 
of children, and the epidemiology, etiology, and prevention of 
childhood diseases, and the adverse reactions associated with vaccines, 
of whom at least two shall be pediatricians; (2) three members from the 
general public, of whom 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, of whom at least one shall be 
an attorney whose specialty includes representation of persons who have 
suffered a vaccine-related injury or death, and of whom 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 six voting members 
of the ACCV representing: (1) Two health professionals, who have 
expertise in the health care of children and the epidemiology, 
etiology, and prevention of childhood diseases, of whom at least one 
shall be a pediatrician; (2) two members of the general public, of whom 
at least one shall be a legal representative (parent or guardian) of a 
child who has suffered a vaccine-related injury or death; and (3) two 
attorneys, of whom at least one shall be an attorney whose specialty 
includes representation of persons who have suffered a vaccine-related 
injury or death, and of whom one shall be an attorney whose specialty 
includes representation of vaccine manufacturers. Nominees will be 
invited to serve a 3-year term beginning January 1, 2016, and ending 
December 31, 2018.
    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. 
Based on a recommendation made by the ACCV, the Secretary will consider 
having a health professional with expertise in obstetrics as the second 
member of the general public. Interested persons 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.
    ACCV members are appointed as Special Government Employees. As 
such, they are covered by the federal ethics rules, including the 
criminal conflict of interest statutes governing executive branch 
employees. For example, an ACCV member may be prohibited from 
discussions about making changes to the Vaccine Injury Table and 
Vaccine Information Statements for the Hepatitis B vaccine if he/she or 
his/her spouse owns stock valued above a certain amount in companies 
which manufacture this vaccine, affecting their own pecuniary

[[Page 25702]]

interests including interests imputed to them. To evaluate possible 
conflicts of interest, potential candidates will be asked to fill out 
the Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, OGE Form 450, to provide 
detailed information concerning financial interests, consultancies, 
research grants, and/or contracts that might be affected by 
recommendations made by the ACCV.
    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 the 
individual possesses that would benefit the workings of the ACCV), and 
the nominee's field(s) of expertise; (2) a biographical 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.
    The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) strives to ensure 
that the membership of the HHS Federal Advisory Committee is fairly 
balanced in terms of points of view presented and the committee's 
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.

Jackie Painter,
Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2015-10381 Filed 5-4-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P