[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 11, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48545-48546]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-17508]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and 
Availability

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

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: As required by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services is hereby giving notice that 
the Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability 
(ACBTSA) will hold a meeting. The meeting will be open to the public. 
The committee will discuss recommendations to improve the blood 
community's response to future public health emergencies. In order to 
facilitate this discussion, key stakeholders from across the nation 
will present on their lessons learned during the latest pandemic. The 
committee will analyze strengths and weaknesses from the COVID-19 
response on the blood community and blood supply.

DATES: The meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday, August 26, 
2020 from approximately 12:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m. and Thursday, August 27, 
2020 from approximately 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Meeting times are tentative 
and subject to change. The confirmed times and agenda items for the 
meeting will be posted on the ACBTSA web page at https://www.hhs.gov/oidp/advisory-committee/blood-tissue-safety-availability/meetings/2020-08-26/index.html when this information becomes available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Berger, Designated Federal 
Officer for the ACBTSA; Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS 
Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Department of 
Health and Human Services, Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street SW, 
Suite L600, Washington, DC 20024. Email: [email protected]; Phone: 202-
795-7608.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The registration link for the meeting will 
be posted at https://www.hhs.gov/oidp/advisory-committee/blood-tissue-safety-availability/meetings/2020-08-26/index.html when it becomes 
available. After registering, you will receive an email confirmation 
with a personalized link to access the webcast on August 26-27.
    The public will have an opportunity to present their views to the 
ACBTSA orally during the meeting's public

[[Page 48546]]

comment session or by submitting a written public comment. Comments 
should be pertinent to the meeting discussion. Persons who wish to 
provide verbal or written public comment should review instructions at 
https://www.hhs.gov/oidp/advisory-committee/blood-tissue-safety-availability/meetings/2020-08-26/index.html and respond by midnight 
August 19, 2020, ET. Verbal comments will be limited to three minutes 
each to accommodate as many speakers as possible.
    The ACBTSA provides advice to the Secretary through the Assistant 
Secretary for Health. The Committee advises on a range of policy issues 
to include: (1) Identification of public health issues through 
surveillance of blood and tissue safety issues with national survey and 
data tools; (2) identification of public health issues that affect 
availability of blood, blood products, and tissues; (3) broad public 
health, ethical, and legal issues related to the safety of blood, blood 
products, and tissues; (4) the impact of various economic factors 
(e.g., product cost and supply) on safety and availability of blood, 
blood products, and tissues; (5) risk communications related to blood 
transfusion and tissue transplantation; and (6) identification of 
infectious disease transmission issues for blood, organs, blood stem 
cells and tissues. The Committee has met regularly since its 
establishment in 1997.

    Dated: July 22, 2020.
James J. Berger,
Designated Federal Officer, Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, Office of 
Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy.
[FR Doc. 2020-17508 Filed 8-10-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-28-P