[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76541-76546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31088]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Ebola Virus Disease Vaccines--Amendment

ACTION: Notice of Amendment to the December 3, 2014 Declaration under 
the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary is amending the Declaration issued pursuant to 
section 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6d) on 
December 3, 2014 (79 FR 73314) to extend the effective time period for 
an additional twelve (12 months) to clarify the list of Covered 
Countermeasures, and to clarify Covered Persons consistent with the 
terms of the declaration and republishing the Declaration in its 
entirety as amended.

DATES: The Amended Declaration is effective as of December 3, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH, Assistant 
Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Office of the Secretary, 
Department of Health and Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue SW., 
Washington, DC 20201, Telephone 202-205-2882.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (PREP Act) 
authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services (the Secretary) 
to issue a Declaration to provide liability immunity to certain 
individuals and entities (Covered Persons) against any claim of loss 
caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting from the 
administration or use of medical countermeasures (Covered 
Countermeasures), except for claims that meet the PREP Act's definition 
of willful misconduct. The Secretary may, though publication in the 
Federal Register, amend any portion of a Declaration. Using this 
authority, the Secretary is amending the Declaration that provides 
liability immunity to Covered Persons for activities related to the 
Covered Countermeasures, Ebola Virus Disease Vaccines listed in Section 
VI of the Declaration, to extend the effective time period for an 
additional

[[Page 76542]]

twelve (12) months; to clarify the identification of Covered 
Countermeasures, and clarify Covered Persons, consistent with the terms 
of this Declaration.
    The PREP Act was enacted on December 30, 2005, as Public Law 109-
148, Division C, Section 2. It amended the Public Health Service (PHS) 
Act, adding section 319F-3, which addresses liability immunity, and 
section 319F-4, which creates a compensation program. These sections 
are codified in the U.S. Code as 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d and 42 U.S.C. 247d-
6e, respectively.
    The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act 
(PAHPRA), Public Law 113-5, was enacted on March 13, 2013. Among other 
things, PAHPRA added sections 564A and 564B to the Federal Food, Drug, 
& Cosmetic (FD&C) Act to provide new authorities for the emergency use 
of approved products in emergencies and products held for emergency 
use. PAHPRA accordingly amended the definitions of ``Covered 
Countermeasures'' and ``qualified pandemic and epidemic products'' in 
section 319F-3 of the Public Health Service Act (PREP Act provisions), 
so that products made available under these new FD&C Act authorities 
could be covered under PREP Act Declarations. PAHPRA also extended the 
definition of qualified pandemic and epidemic products that may be 
covered under a PREP Act Declaration to include products or 
technologies intended to enhance the use or effect of a drug, 
biological product, or device used against the pandemic or epidemic or 
against adverse events from these products.
    The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness that is often 
fatal. Since March 2014, West Africa has experienced the largest and 
most complex Ebola outbreak since the virus was discovered in 1976, 
affecting populations in West African countries and travelers who leave 
West Africa. The World Health Organization declared the Ebola Virus 
Disease Outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern 
under the framework of the International Health Regulations (2005).
    Unless otherwise noted, all statutory citations below are to the 
U.S. Code.

Section I, Determination of Public Health Emergency or Credible Risk of 
Future Public Health Emergency

    Before issuing a Declaration under the PREP Act, the Secretary is 
required to determine that a disease or other health condition or 
threat to health constitutes a public health emergency or that there is 
a credible risk that the disease, condition, or threat may constitute 
such an emergency. This determination is separate and apart from a 
Declaration issued by the Secretary under section 319 of the PHS Act 
that a disease or disorder presents a public health emergency or that a 
public health emergency, including significant outbreaks of infectious 
diseases or bioterrorist attacks, otherwise exists, or other 
Declarations or determinations made under other authorities of the 
Secretary. Accordingly, in Section I, the Secretary determines that 
there is a credible risk that the spread of Ebola virus and the 
resulting disease may constitute a public health emergency.

Section II, Factors Considered

    In deciding whether and under what circumstances to issue a 
Declaration with respect to a Covered Countermeasure, the Secretary 
must consider the desirability of encouraging the design, development, 
clinical testing or investigation, manufacture, labeling, distribution, 
formulation, packaging, marketing, promotion, sale, purchase, donation, 
dispensing, prescribing, administration, licensing, and use of the 
countermeasure. In Section II, the Secretary states that she has 
considered these factors.

Section III, Recommended Activities

    The Secretary must recommend the activities for which the PREP 
Act's liability immunity is in effect. These activities may include, 
under conditions as the Secretary may specify, the manufacture, 
testing, development, distribution, administration, or use of one or 
more Covered Countermeasures (Recommended Activities). In Section III, 
the Secretary recommends activities for which the immunity is in 
effect.

Section IV, Liability Immunity

    The Secretary must also state that liability protections available 
under the PREP Act are in effect with respect to the Recommended 
Activities. These liability protections provide that, ``[s]ubject to 
other provisions of [the PREP Act], a covered person shall be immune 
from suit and liability under Federal and State law with respect to all 
claims for loss caused by, arising out of, relating to, or resulting 
from the administration to or use by an individual of a covered 
countermeasure if a Declaration . . . has been issued with respect to 
such countermeasure.'' In Section IV, the Secretary states that 
liability protections are in effect with respect to the Recommended 
Activities.

Section V, Covered Persons

    The PREP Act's liability immunity applies to ``Covered Persons'' 
with respect to administration or use of a Covered Countermeasure. The 
term ``Covered Persons'' has a specific meaning and is defined in the 
PREP Act to include manufacturers, distributors, program planners, and 
qualified persons, and their officials, agents, and employees, and the 
United States. The PREP Act further defines the terms ``manufacturer,'' 
``distributor,'' ``program planner,'' and ``qualified person'' as 
described below.
    A manufacturer includes a contractor or subcontractor of a 
manufacturer; a supplier or licenser of any product, intellectual 
property, service, research tool or component or other article used in 
the design, development, clinical testing, investigation or 
manufacturing of a Covered Countermeasure; and any or all of the 
parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, successors, and assigns of a 
manufacturer.
    A distributor means a person or entity engaged in the distribution 
of drug, biologics, or devices, including but not limited to: 
Manufacturers; repackers; common carriers; contract carriers; air 
carriers; own-label distributors; private-label distributors; jobbers; 
brokers; warehouses and wholesale drug warehouses; independent 
wholesale drug traders; and retail pharmacies.
    A program planner means a state or local government, including an 
Indian tribe; a person employed by the state or local government; or 
other person who supervises or administers a program with respect to 
the administration, dispensing, distribution, provision, or use of a 
Covered Countermeasure, including a person who establishes 
requirements, provides policy guidance, or supplies technical or 
scientific advice or assistance or provides a facility to administer or 
use a Covered Countermeasure in accordance with the Secretary's 
Declaration. Under this definition, a private sector employer or 
community group or other ``person'' can be a program planner when it 
carries out the described activities.
    A qualified person means a licensed health professional or other 
individual authorized to prescribe, administer, or dispense Covered 
Countermeasures under the law of the state in which the countermeasure 
was prescribed, administered, or dispensed; or a person within a 
category of persons identified as qualified in the Secretary's 
Declaration. Under this definition, the Secretary can describe in the 
Declaration other qualified persons, such as volunteers, who are 
Covered

[[Page 76543]]

Persons. Section V describes other qualified persons covered by this 
Declaration.
    The PREP Act also defines the word ``person'' as used in the Act: A 
person includes an individual, partnership, corporation, association, 
entity, or public or private corporation, including a Federal, State, 
or local government agency or department.
    Section V describes Covered Persons under the Declaration, 
including Qualified Persons. We have revised the last category to 
remove the specific references to emergency use instructions and orders 
issued under section 564A of the FD&C Act, to clarify that any 
activities in accordance with that section are covered.

Section VI, Covered Countermeasures

    As noted above, section III describes the Secretary's Recommended 
Activities for which liability immunity is in effect. This section 
identifies the countermeasures for which the Secretary has recommended 
such activities. The PREP Act states that a ``Covered Countermeasure'' 
must be: A ``qualified pandemic or epidemic product,'' or a ``security 
countermeasure,'' as described immediately below; or a drug, biological 
product or device authorized for emergency use in accordance with 
sections 564, 564A, or 564B of the FD&C Act.
    A qualified pandemic or epidemic product means a drug or device, as 
defined in the FD&C Act or a biological product, as defined in the PHS 
Act that is: (i) Manufactured, used, designed, developed, modified, 
licensed or procured to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat, or cure a 
pandemic or epidemic or limit the harm such a pandemic or epidemic 
might otherwise cause; (ii) manufactured, used, designed, developed, 
modified, licensed, or procured to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat, 
or cure a serious or life-threatening disease or condition caused by 
such a drug, biological product, or device; (iii) or a product or 
technology intended to enhance the use or effect of such a drug, 
biological product, or device.
    A security countermeasure is a drug or device, as defined in the 
FD&C Act or a biological product, as defined in the PHS Act that: (i) 
(a) The Secretary determines to be a priority to diagnose, mitigate, 
prevent, or treat harm from any biological, chemical, radiological, or 
nuclear agent identified as a material threat by the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, or (b) to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat harm 
from a condition that may result in adverse health consequences or 
death and may be caused by administering a drug, biological product, or 
device against such an agent; and (ii) is determined by the Secretary 
of Health and Human Services to be a necessary countermeasure to 
protect public health.
    To be a Covered Countermeasure, qualified pandemic or epidemic 
products or security countermeasures also must be approved or cleared 
under the FD&C Act; licensed under the PHS Act; or authorized for 
emergency use under sections 564, 564A, or 564B of the FD&C Act.
    A qualified pandemic or epidemic product also may be a Covered 
Countermeasure when it is subject to an exemption (that is, it is 
permitted to be used under an Investigational Drug Application or an 
Investigational Device Exemption) under the FD&C Act and is the object 
of research for possible use for diagnosis, mitigation, prevention, 
treatment, or cure, or to limit harm of a pandemic or epidemic or 
serious or life-threatening condition caused by such a drug or device. 
A security countermeasure also may be a Covered Countermeasure if it 
may reasonably be determined to qualify for approval or licensing 
within 10 years after the Department's determination that procurement 
of the countermeasure is appropriate.
    Section VI lists the Ebola Virus Disease Vaccines that are Covered 
Countermeasures. The Secretary is amending the list to identify the 
vaccines without names of manufacturers. This change is intended to 
clarify that the listed vaccines are Covered Countermeasures regardless 
of the arrangements made by manufactures for production of the vaccine. 
The change is intended to clarify existing coverage; it is not intended 
to be a substantive legal change. In addition, the Secretary changed 
``BPSC1001 (rVSV-ZEBOV-GP)'' to the current name for the same vaccine, 
``Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-vectored vaccine expressing 
EBOV-Zaire glycoprotein (rVSV-ZEBOV-GP),'' for accuracy.
    Section VI also refers to the statutory definitions of Covered 
Countermeasures to make clear that these statutory definitions limit 
the scope of Covered Countermeasures. Specifically, the Declaration 
notes that Covered Countermeasures must be ``qualified pandemic or 
epidemic products,'' or ``security countermeasures,'' or drugs, 
biological products, or devices authorized for investigational or 
emergency use, as those terms are defined in the PREP Act, the FD&C 
Act, and the Public Health Service Act.

Section VII, Limitations on Distribution

    The Secretary may specify that liability immunity is in effect only 
to Covered Countermeasures obtained through a particular means of 
distribution. The Declaration states that liability immunity is 
afforded to Covered Persons for Recommended Activities related to: (a) 
Present or future federal contracts, cooperative agreements, grants, 
other transactions, interagency agreements, or memoranda of 
understanding or other federal agreements; or (b) Activities authorized 
in accordance with the public health and medical response of the 
Authority Having Jurisdiction to prescribe, administer, deliver, 
distribute, or dispense the Covered Countermeasures following a 
Declaration of an emergency.
    Section VII defines the terms ``Authority Having Jurisdiction'' and 
``Declaration of an emergency.'' We have specified in the definition 
that Authorities having jurisdiction include federal, state, local, and 
tribal authorities and institutions or organizations acting on behalf 
of those governmental entities.
    For governmental program planners only, liability immunity is 
afforded only to the extent they obtain Covered Countermeasures through 
voluntary means, such as (1) donation; (2) commercial sale; (3) 
deployment of Covered Countermeasures from Federal stockpiles; or (4) 
deployment of donated, purchased, or otherwise voluntarily obtained 
Covered Countermeasures from State, local, or private stockpiles. This 
last limitation on distribution is intended to deter program planners 
that are government entities from seizing privately held stockpiles of 
Covered Countermeasures. It does not apply to any other Covered 
Persons, including other program planners who are not government 
entities.

Section VIII, Category of Disease, Health Condition, or Threat

    The Secretary must identify, for each Covered Countermeasure, the 
categories of diseases, health conditions, or threats to health for 
which the Secretary recommends the administration or use of the 
countermeasure. In Section VIII, the Secretary states that the disease 
threat for which she recommends administration or use of the Covered 
Countermeasures is Ebola virus disease.

Section IX, Administration of Covered Countermeasures

    The PREP Act does not explicitly define the term ``administration'' 
but

[[Page 76544]]

does assign the Secretary the responsibility to provide relevant 
conditions in the Declaration. In Section IX, the Secretary defines 
``Administration of a Covered Countermeasure:''
    Administration of a Covered Countermeasure means physical provision 
of the countermeasures to recipients, or activities and decisions 
directly relating to public and private delivery, distribution, and 
dispensing of the countermeasures to recipients; management and 
operation of countermeasure programs; or management and operation of 
locations for purpose of distributing and dispensing countermeasures.
    The definition of ``administration'' extends only to physical 
provision of a countermeasure to a recipient, such as vaccination or 
handing drugs to patients, and to activities related to management and 
operation of programs and locations for providing countermeasures to 
recipients, such as decisions and actions involving security and 
queuing, but only insofar as those activities directly relate to the 
countermeasure activities. Claims for which Covered Persons are 
provided immunity under the Act are losses caused by, arising out of, 
relating to, or resulting from the administration to or use by an 
individual of a Covered Countermeasure consistent with the terms of a 
Declaration issued under the Act. Under the Secretary's definition, 
these liability claims are precluded if they allege an injury caused by 
physical provision of a countermeasure to a recipient, or if the claims 
are directly due to conditions of delivery, distribution, dispensing, 
or management and operation of countermeasure programs at distribution 
and dispensing sites.
    Thus, it is the Secretary's interpretation that, when a Declaration 
is in effect, the Act precludes, for example, liability claims alleging 
negligence by a manufacturer in creating a vaccine, or negligence by a 
health care provider in prescribing the wrong dose, absent willful 
misconduct. Likewise, the Act precludes a liability claim relating to 
the management and operation of a countermeasure distribution program 
or site, such as a slip-and-fall injury or vehicle collision by a 
recipient receiving a countermeasure at a retail store serving as an 
administration or dispensing location that alleges, for example, lax 
security or chaotic crowd control. However, a liability claim alleging 
an injury occurring at the site that was not directly related to the 
countermeasure activities is not covered, such as a slip and fall with 
no direct connection to the countermeasure's administration or use. In 
each case, whether immunity is applicable will depend on the particular 
facts and circumstances.

Section X, Population

    The Secretary must identify, for each Covered Countermeasure 
specified in a Declaration, the population or populations of 
individuals for which liability immunity is in effect with respect to 
administration or use of the countermeasure. This section explains 
which individuals should use the countermeasure or to whom the 
countermeasure should be administered--in short, those who should be 
vaccinated or take a drug or other countermeasure. Section X provides 
that the population includes ``any individual who uses or who is 
administered a Covered Countermeasure in accordance with the 
Declaration.''
    In addition, the PREP Act specifies that liability immunity is 
afforded: (1) To manufacturers and distributors without regard to 
whether the countermeasure is used by or administered to this 
population; and (2) to program planners and qualified persons when the 
countermeasure is either used by or administered to this population or 
the program planner or qualified person reasonably could have believed 
the recipient was in this population. Section X includes these 
statutory conditions in the Declaration for clarity.

Section XI, Geographic Area

    The Secretary must identify, for each Covered Countermeasure 
specified in the Declaration, the geographic area or areas for which 
liability immunity is in effect with respect to administration or use 
of the countermeasure, including, as appropriate, whether the 
Declaration applies only to individuals physically present in the area 
or, in addition, applies to individuals who have a described connection 
to the area. Section XI provides that liability immunity is afforded 
for the administration or use of a Covered Countermeasure without 
geographic limitation. This could include claims related to 
administration or use in West Africa. It is possible that claims may 
arise in regard to administration or use of the Covered Countermeasures 
outside the U.S. that may be resolved under U.S. law.
    In addition, the PREP Act specifies that liability immunity is 
afforded: (1) To manufacturers and distributors without regard to 
whether the countermeasure is used by or administered to individuals in 
the geographic areas; and (2) to program planners and qualified persons 
when the countermeasure is either used or administered in the 
geographic areas or the program planner or qualified person reasonably 
could have believed the countermeasure was used or administered in the 
areas. Section XI includes these statutory conditions in the 
Declaration for clarity.

Section XII, Effective Time Period

    The Secretary must identify, for each Covered Countermeasure, the 
period or periods during which liability immunity is in effect, 
designated by dates, milestones, or other description of events, 
including factors specified in the PREP Act. Section XII is amended to 
extend the effective time period for different means of distribution of 
Covered Countermeasures up to an additional twelve (12) months.

Section XIII, Additional Time Period of Coverage

    The Secretary must specify a date after the ending date of the 
effective period of the Declaration that is reasonable for 
manufacturers to arrange for disposition of the Covered Countermeasure, 
including return of the product to the manufacturer, and for other 
Covered Persons to take appropriate actions to limit administration or 
use of the Covered Countermeasure. In addition, the PREP Act specifies 
that for Covered Countermeasures that are subject to a Declaration at 
the time they are obtained for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) 
under 42 U.S.C. 247d-6b(a), the effective period of the Declaration 
extends through the time the countermeasure is used or administered 
pursuant to a distribution or release from the Stockpile. Liability 
immunity under the provisions of the PREP Act and the conditions of the 
Declaration continues during these additional time periods. Thus, 
liability immunity is afforded during the ``Effective Time Period,'' 
described under XII of the Declaration, plus the ``Additional Time 
Period'' described under section XIII of the Declaration.
    Section XIII provides for twelve (12) months as the additional time 
period of coverage after expiration of the Declaration.' Section XIII 
also explains the extended coverage that applies to any products 
obtained for the Strategic National Stockpile during the effective 
period of the Declaration.

Section XIV, Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program

    Section 319F-4 of the PREP Act authorizes the Countermeasures 
Injury

[[Page 76545]]

Compensation Program (CICP) to provide benefits to eligible individuals 
who sustain a serious physical injury or die as a direct result of the 
administration or use of a Covered Countermeasure. Compensation under 
the CICP for an injury directly caused by a Covered Countermeasure is 
based on the requirements set forth in this Declaration, the 
administrative rules for the Program, and the statute. To show direct 
causation between a Covered Countermeasure and a serious physical 
injury, the statute requires ``compelling, reliable, valid, medical and 
scientific evidence.'' The administrative rules for the Program further 
explain the necessary requirements for eligibility under the CICP. 
Please note that, by statute, requirements for compensation under the 
CICP may not align with the requirements for liability immunity 
provided under the PREP Act. Section XIV, ``Countermeasures Injury 
Compensation Program'' explains the types of injury and standard of 
evidence needed to be considered for compensation under the CICP.
    Further, the administrative rules for the CICP specify if 
countermeasures are administered or used outside the United States, 
only otherwise eligible individuals at American embassies, military 
installations abroad (such as military bases, ships, and camps) or at 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) installations (subject to the 
NATO Status of Forces Agreement) where American servicemen and 
servicewomen are stationed may be considered for CICP benefits. Other 
individuals outside the United States may not be eligible for CICP 
benefits.

Section XV, Amendments

    This is the first amendment to the Declaration issued December 3, 
2014 (79 FR 73314). The Secretary may amend any portion of this 
Declaration through publication in the Federal Register.

Republished Declaration

    Declaration, as Amended, for Public Readiness and Emergency 
Preparedness Act Coverage for Ebola Virus Disease Vaccines.
    This Declaration amends and republishes the December 3, 2014, 
Declaration for coverage under the Public Readiness and Emergency 
Preparedness (``PREP'') Act for Ebola Virus Disease Vaccines. To the 
extent any term of the December 3, 2014, Declaration is inconsistent 
with any provision of this Republished Declaration, the terms of this 
Republished Declaration are controlling.

I. Determination of Public Health Emergency or Credible Risk of Future 
Public Health Emergency

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(b)(1)

    I have determined that there is a credible risk that the spread of 
Ebola virus and the resulting disease or conditions may in the future 
constitute a public health emergency.

II. Factors Considered

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(b)(6)

    I have considered the desirability of encouraging the design, 
development, clinical testing, or investigation, manufacture, labeling, 
distribution, formulation, packaging, marketing, promotion, sale, 
purchase, donation, dispensing, prescribing, administration, licensing, 
and use of the Covered Countermeasures.

III. Recommended Activities

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(b)(1)

    I recommend, under the conditions stated in this Declaration, the 
manufacture, testing, development, distribution, administration, and 
use of the Covered Countermeasures.

IV. Liability Immunity

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(a), 247d-6d(b)(1)

    Liability immunity as prescribed in the PREP Act and conditions 
stated in this Declaration is in effect for the Recommended Activities 
described in section III.

V. Covered Persons

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(i)(2), (3), (4), (6), (8)(A) and (B)

    Covered Persons who are afforded liability immunity under this 
Declaration are ``manufacturers,'' ``distributors,'' ``program 
planners,'' ``qualified persons,'' and their officials, agents, and 
employees, as those terms are defined in the PREP Act, and the United 
States.
    In addition, I have determined that the following additional 
persons are qualified persons: (a) Any person authorized in accordance 
with the public health and medical emergency response of the Authority 
Having Jurisdiction, as described in section VII below, to prescribe, 
administer, deliver, distribute or dispense the Covered 
Countermeasures, and their officials, agents, employees, contractors 
and volunteers, following a Declaration of an emergency; (b) any person 
authorized to prescribe, administer, or dispense the Covered 
Countermeasures or who is otherwise authorized to perform an activity 
under an Emergency Use Authorization in accordance with section 564 of 
the FD&C Act; (c) any person authorized to prescribe, administer, or 
dispense Covered Countermeasures in accordance with Section 564A of the 
FD&C Act.

VI. Covered Countermeasures

42 U.S.C. 247d-6b(c)(1)(B), 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(i)(1) and (7)

    Covered Countermeasures are the following Ebola Virus Disease 
Vaccines:
    (1) Recombinant Replication Deficient Chimpanzee Adenovirus Type 3-
Vectored Ebola Zaire Vaccine (ChAd3-EBO-Z);
    (2) Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-vectored vaccine 
expressing EBOV-Zaire glycoprotein (rVSV-ZEBOV-GP), and;
    (3) Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo (MVA-mBN226B).
    Covered Countermeasures must be ``qualified pandemic or epidemic 
products,'' or ``security countermeasures,'' or drugs, biological 
products, or devices authorized for investigational or emergency use, 
as those terms are defined in the PREP Act, the FD&C Act, and the 
Public Health Service Act.

VII. Limitations on Distribution

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(a)(5) and (b)(2)(E)

    I have determined that liability immunity is afforded to Covered 
Persons only for Recommended Activities involving Covered 
Countermeasures that are related to:
    (a) Present or future Federal contracts, cooperative agreements, 
grants, other transactions, interagency agreements, memoranda of 
understanding, or other federal agreements; or,
    (b) Activities authorized in accordance with the public health and 
medical response of the Authority Having Jurisdiction to prescribe, 
administer, deliver, distribute or dispense the Covered Countermeasures 
following a Declaration of an emergency.
    i. The Authority Having Jurisdiction means the public agency or its 
delegate that has legal responsibility and authority for responding to 
an incident, based on political or geographical (e.g., city, county, 
tribal, state, or federal boundary lines) or functional (e.g., law 
enforcement, public health) range or sphere of authority.
    ii. A Declaration of emergency means any Declaration by any 
authorized local, regional, state, or federal official of an emergency 
specific to events that indicate an immediate need to administer and 
use the Covered Countermeasures, with the exception of

[[Page 76546]]

a federal Declaration in support of an Emergency Use Authorization 
under section 564 of the FD&C Act unless such Declaration specifies 
otherwise;
    I have also determined that for governmental program planners only, 
liability immunity is afforded only to the extent such program planners 
obtain Covered Countermeasures through voluntary means, such as (1) 
donation; (2) commercial sale; (3) deployment of Covered 
Countermeasures from federal stockpiles; or (4) deployment of donated, 
purchased, or otherwise voluntarily obtained Covered Countermeasures 
from state, local, or private stockpiles.

VIII. Category of Disease, Health Condition, or Threat

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(b)(2)(A)

    The category of disease, health condition, or threat for which I 
recommend the administration or use of the Covered Countermeasures is 
Ebola virus disease.

IX. Administration of Covered Countermeasures

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(a)(2)(B)

    Administration of the Covered Countermeasure means physical 
provision of the countermeasures to recipients, or activities and 
decisions directly relating to public and private delivery, 
distribution and dispensing of the countermeasures to recipients, 
management and operation of countermeasure programs, or management and 
operation of locations for purpose of distributing and dispensing 
countermeasures.

X. Population

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(a)(4), 247d-6d(b)(2)(C)

    The populations of individuals include any individual who uses or 
is administered the Covered Countermeasures in accordance with this 
Declaration.
    Liability immunity is afforded to manufacturers and distributors 
without regard to whether the countermeasure is used by or administered 
to this population; liability immunity is afforded to program planners 
and qualified persons when the countermeasure is used by or 
administered to this population, or the program planner or qualified 
person reasonably could have believed the recipient was in this 
population.

XI. Geographic Area

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(a)(4), 247d-6d(b)(2)(D)

    Liability immunity is afforded for the administration or use of a 
Covered Countermeasure without geographic limitation.
    Liability immunity is afforded to manufacturers and distributors 
without regard to whether the countermeasure is used by or administered 
in any designated geographic area; liability immunity is afforded to 
program planners and qualified persons when the countermeasure is used 
by or administered in any designated geographic area, or the program 
planner or qualified person reasonably could have believed the 
recipient was in that geographic area.

XII. Effective Time Period

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(b)(2)(B)

    Liability immunity for Covered Countermeasures through means of 
distribution, as identified in Section VII(a) of this Declaration, 
other than in accordance with the public health and medical response of 
the Authority Having Jurisdiction began on December 3, 2014, and 
extends for twenty-four (24) months from that date.
    Liability immunity for Covered Countermeasures administered and 
used in accordance with the public health and medical response of the 
Authority Having Jurisdiction begins with a Declaration and lasts 
through (1) the final day the emergency Declaration is in effect or (2) 
twenty-four (24) months from December 3, 2014, whichever occurs first.

XIII. Additional Time Period of Coverage

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(b)(3)(B) and (C)

    I have determined that an additional twelve (12) months of 
liability protection is reasonable to allow for the manufacturer(s) to 
arrange for disposition of the Covered Countermeasure, including return 
of the Covered Countermeasures to the manufacturer, and for Covered 
Persons to take such other actions as are appropriate to limit the 
administration or use of the Covered Countermeasures.
    Covered Countermeasures obtained for the SNS during the effective 
period of this Declaration are covered through the date of 
administration or use pursuant to a distribution or release from the 
SNS.

XIV. Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program

42 U.S.C 247d-6e

    The PREP Act authorizes the Countermeasures Injury Compensation 
Program (CICP) to provide benefits to certain individuals or estates of 
individuals who sustain a covered serious physical injury as the direct 
result of the administration or use of the Covered Countermeasures, and 
benefits to certain survivors of individuals who die as a direct result 
of the administration or use of the Covered Countermeasures. The causal 
connection between the countermeasure and the serious physical injury 
must be supported by compelling, reliable, valid, medical and 
scientific evidence in order for the individual to be considered for 
compensation. The CICP is administered by the Health Resources and 
Services Administration, within the Department of Health and Human 
Services. Information about the CICP is available at the toll-free 
number 1-855-266-2427 or http://www.hrsa.gov/cicp/.

XV. Amendments

42 U.S.C. 247d-6d(b)(4)

    Amendments to this Declaration will be published in the Federal 
Register.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 247d-6d.

    Dated: December 1, 2015.
Sylvia M. Burwell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-31088 Filed 12-8-15; 8:45 am]
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