[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25020-25021]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11745]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Solicitation of Written Comments on the Human Papillomavirus 
Vaccination Implementation Work Group Draft Report and Draft 
Recommendations for Consideration by the National Vaccine Advisory 
Committee

AGENCY: National Vaccine Program Office, Office of the Assistant 
Secretary for Health, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and 
Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) was established 
in 1987 to comply with Title XXI of the Public Health Service Act. Its 
purpose is to advise and make recommendations to the Director of the 
National Vaccine Program on matters related to program 
responsibilities. The Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) has been 
designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the 
Director of the National Vaccine Program. The National Vaccine Program 
Office (NVPO) is located within the Office of the Assistant Secretary 
for Health (OASH), Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS). NVPO provides leadership and fosters 
collaboration among the various federal agencies involved in vaccine 
and immunization activities. The NVPO also supports the National 
Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC). The NVAC advises and makes 
recommendations to the ASH in his capacity as the Director of the 
National Vaccine Program on matters related to vaccine program 
responsibilities.
    The ASH charged the NVAC in February 2018 to establish a work group 
to produce a brief report by June 2018 on recommendations to strengthen 
the effectiveness of national, state, and local efforts to improve 
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) coverage rates. Through a series of 
conference calls, electronic communication, and public discussion at 
the May 3, 2018, NVAC public meeting, the work group identified a 
number of draft recommendations for consideration by the NVAC. The work 
group's draft report and recommendations will inform NVAC deliberations 
as it finalizes recommendations for transmittal to the ASH.
    On behalf of NVAC, NVPO is soliciting public comment on the draft 
report and draft recommendations from a variety of stakeholders, 
including the general public, for consideration by the NVAC as they 
develop their final recommendations to the ASH. It is anticipated that 
the draft report and draft recommendations, as revised with 
consideration given to public comment and stakeholder input, will be 
presented to the NVAC for adoption in June 2018 at the quarterly NVAC 
meeting.

DATES: Comments for consideration by the NVAC should be received no 
later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on June 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 
    (1) The draft report and draft recommendations are available on the 
web at http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/nvac/index.html.
    (2) Electronic responses may be sent to: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Captain Angela Shen, Designated 
Federal Officer, National Vaccine Program Office, U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services, Room 715H, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20201. Phone: 202-690-5566; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On June 9, 2015, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) 
issued a report ``Overcoming Barriers to Low HPV Vaccine Uptake in the 
United States: Recommendations from the National Vaccine Advisory 
Committee.'' This report provided recommendations to the ASH on how to 
increase Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake in young adolescents 
by reviewing the current state of HPV immunization, understanding the 
root cause(s) for the observed relatively low vaccine uptake (both 
initiation and series completion), and identifying existing best 
practices. Since the original NVAC HPV report, substantial progress led 
to policy and program changes and advances in research. To build on the 
substantial progress made toward increasing HPV vaccination coverage 
rates, the ASH charged the NVAC in February 2018 to establish a work 
group to produce a brief report by June 2018 on recommendations to 
``strengthen the effectiveness of national, state, and local efforts to 
improve HPV coverage rates.'' The ASH specifically requested the NVAC 
to consider the following:
    (1) Many national organizations are currently supporting HPV 
efforts. Are there additional national organizations that might 
contribute to increasing HPV vaccination coverage?
    (2) At the state level, many states have formed coalitions to 
support HPV vaccination efforts. Is there general guidance for states 
that do not yet have coalitions?
    (3) Integrated health care delivery networks can successfully 
integrate comprehensive quality improvement approaches to increase 
vaccination coverage rates. How can state immunization programs and 
coalitions engage with health systems to work together on improving HPV 
vaccination coverage?
    (4) Please specify recommendations on how to meet the needs of 
providers in rural areas.
    The NVAC established the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination 
Implementation Work Group in February 2018, a work group tasked to 
engage with a wide-range of implementation partners from across all 
sectors (e.g., government, industry, health systems, associations, 
academia, and non-profit) to inform NVAC's work and these 
recommendations.
    The NVAC draft report highlights the progress made toward 
increasing HPV vaccination coverage rates, since the 2015 NVAC report. 
The recommendations detail how the ASH can support HHS activities to 
strengthen the effectiveness of national, state, and local efforts to 
improve HPV coverage rates.

II. Request for Comment

    NVPO, on behalf of the NVAC HPV Vaccination Implementation Work 
Group, requests input on the draft report

[[Page 25021]]

and draft recommendations. Please limit your comments to three (3) 
pages.

III. Potential Responders

    HHS invites input from a broad range of stakeholders including 
individuals and organizations that have interests U.S. vaccine and 
immunization efforts and the role of HHS in advancing those efforts.
    Examples of potential responders include, but are not limited to, 
the following:

--General public;
--advocacy groups, non-profit organizations, and public interest 
organizations;
--academics, professional societies, and healthcare organizations;
--public health officials and immunization program managers;
--physician and non-physician providers that administer immunization 
services, including pharmacists; and
--representatives from the private sector.

    When responding, please self-identify with any of the above or 
other categories (include all that apply) and your name. Anonymous 
submissions will not be considered. Written submissions should not 
exceed three (3) pages. Please do not send proprietary, commercial, 
financial, business, confidential, trade secret, or personal 
information.

    Dated: May 24, 2018.
Roula Sweis,
Deputy Director, National Vaccine Program Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-11745 Filed 5-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-44-P