[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13907-13908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05040]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

[Document Identifier OMB No. 0990-0476]


Agency Information Collection Request. 60-Day Public Comment 
Request

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirement of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and 
Human Services, is publishing the following summary of a proposed 
collection for public comment.

DATES: Comments on the ICR must be received on or before May 10, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to [email protected] or by calling 
(202) 795-7714.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: When submitting comments or requesting 
information, please include the document identifier 0990-0476, and 
project title for reference, to Sherrette Funn, the Reports Clearance 
Officer, [email protected], or call 202-795-7714.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested persons are invited to send 
comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this 
collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (1) 
The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for 
the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of 
the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology to minimize the information collection burden.
    Title of the Collection: ASPA COVID-19 Public Education Campaign 
Market Research.
    Type of Collection: OMB #0990-0476.
    The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA), 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is requesting an 
extension on a currently approved collection that includes three 
components: 1. COVID-19 Current Events Tracker; 2. Foundational Focus 
Groups; and 3. Copy Testing Surveys. Together, these efforts support 
the development and execution of the COVID-19 Public Education 
Campaign. The broad purpose of each effort is as follows:

Current Events Tracker

    The primary purpose of the COVID-19 Current Events Tracker (CET) 
survey is to continuously track key metrics of importance to the 
Campaign, including vaccine confidence, familiarity with and trust in 
HHS, and the impact of external events on key attitudes and behaviors. 
Tracking Americans' attitudes about, perceptions of, and behavior 
toward the COVID-19 pandemic will inform the Campaign of key metrics 
around vaccine confidence and uptake, as well as towards vaccine 
messengers such as HHS and key public health officials. It will also 
inform changes in messaging strategies necessary to effectively reach 
the entire U.S. population or specific subgroups.
    The weekly tracking of this information will be critical for the 
Campaign's ability to respond to shifting events and attitudes in real-
time, helping guide the American public with accurate information about 
the vaccine rollout as well as on how to take protective actions.

Foundational Focus Groups

    ASPA is collecting information through the COVID-19 Public 
Education Campaign Foundational Focus Groups to inform the Campaign 
about audience risk knowledge, perceptions, current behaviors, and 
barriers and motivators to healthy behaviors (including COVID-19 
vaccination). Ultimately these focus groups will provide in-depth 
insights regarding information needed by Campaign audiences as well as 
their attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19 and the COVID-19 
vaccines. These will be used to inform the development of Campaign 
messages and strategy.

Copy Testing Surveys

    Prior to placing Campaign advertisements in market, ASPA will 
conduct copy testing surveys to ensure the final Campaign messages have 
the intended effect on target attitudes and behaviors. Copy testing 
surveys will be conducted with sample members who comprise the target 
audiences; these surveys will assess perceived effectiveness of the 
advertisements as well as the effect of exposure to an ad on key 
attitudes and behavioral intentions. The results from these surveys 
will be used internally by ASPA to inform decisions on Campaign 
messages and materials; for example, to identify revisions to the 
materials or determine which advertisement to move to market.
    Need and Proposed Use: In light of the current COVID-19 crisis, 
this information is needed given the impact of the pandemic on the 
nation. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS) has declared a public health emergency effective January 
27, 2020, under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
247d [1]) and renewed it continually since its issuance (see links to 
the determination here and here). Additionally, in accordance with 5 
CFR 1320.13, HHS previously requested emergency submissions (sections 
1320 (a)(2)(ii) and (2)(iii) of the federal regulations.

[[Page 13908]]



                                           Estimated Burden Hour Table
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                                                                                   Foundational    Copy testing
                                                                        CET        focus groups       survey
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Hours to screen.................................................             N/A             .09            0.03
Screening completes (per wave)..................................             N/A           2,500           6,700
Screening participants (total/screened out).....................             N/A   20,000/19,136   53,600/45,600
Hours to complete survey/group..................................            0.12             1.5            0.33
Participants (per wave/round)...................................           1,000             108           1,000
Number of waves/rounds..........................................              92               8               8
Burden per wave/round...........................................             120             387             330
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total participants..........................................          92,000             864           8,000
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total respondents *.........................................          92,000          20,000          53,600
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total burden hours..........................................          11,040           3,096           4,248
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* Total respondents = total participants for each effort + total people screened out.

Sum of All Studies

    Total Respondents: 165,600.
    Total Burden Hours: 18,384.

Sherrette A. Funn,
Office of the Secretary, Asst Paperwork Reduction Act Reports Clearance 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 2021-05040 Filed 3-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-25-P