[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 201 (Monday, October 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63234-63235]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26462]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Advisory Commission on 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 will receive nominations on or before December 18, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: All nominations are to be submitted to the Director, 
Division of Injury Compensation Programs, Healthcare Systems Bureau 
(HSB),

[[Page 63235]]

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 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, 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, the epidemiology, etiology, 
and prevention of childhood diseases, and the adverse reactions 
associated with vaccines, of whom both shall be a pediatricians; (2) 
two members of the general public, of whom at least one shall be 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 the date of appointment.
    The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or Department) 
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 manufacturer this vaccine, affecting their own pecuniary 
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 does the 
individual possess 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 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. 2015-26462 Filed 10-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P