[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54700-54701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19242]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Solicitation of Nominations for Membership To Serve on the 
Advisory Commission on Childhood Vaccines

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Request for nominations.

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SUMMARY: HRSA is seeking nominations of qualified candidates for 
consideration for appointment as members of the Advisory Commission on 
Childhood Vaccines (ACCV). The ACCV advises the Secretary of HHS 
(Secretary) on issues related to implementation of the National Vaccine 
Injury Compensation Program (VICP). HRSA is seeking nominations of 
qualified candidates to fill vacancies on the ACCV.

DATES: Written nominations for membership on the ACCV will be received 
on a continuous basis.

ADDRESSES: Nomination packages must be submitted to the Director, 
Division of Injury Compensation Programs, Health Systems Bureau, HRSA, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 08N146B, Rockville, Maryland 20857. Candidates 
can submit electronic nomination packages by email to Pita Gomez at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pita Gomez, Principal Staff Liaison, 
Division of Injury Compensation Programs, Health Systems Bureau, HRSA 
at (301) 945-9386 or email at [email protected]. A copy of the ACCV charter 
and list of the current membership is available on the ACCV website at 
https://www.hrsa.gov/advisory-committees/vaccines/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ACCV was established by Title XXI of the 
Public Health Service Act (the Act) and advises the Secretary on issues 
related to implementation of the VICP. The ACCV meets at least four 
times each calendar year.
    Nominations: HRSA is requesting nominations for voting members to 
serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) on the ACCV to fill open 
positions. The Secretary appoints members with the expertise needed to 
fulfill the duties of the ACCV. The

[[Page 54701]]

membership requirements are set forth in section 2119 of the National 
Childhood Vaccine Injury Act.
    The ACCV consists of nine voting members appointed by the Secretary 
as follows: (1) Three health professionals, who are not employees of 
the U.S. 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 
non-voting ex officio members.
    HHS will consider nominations of all qualified individuals with a 
view to ensure that the ACCV includes the areas of subject matter 
expertise noted above. As indicated above, at least two of the three 
ACCV members of the general public must be legal representatives 
(parents or guardians) of children who have suffered a vaccine-related 
injury or death. Because those members must be the legal 
representatives of children who have suffered a vaccine-related injury 
or death, to be considered for appointment to the ACCV in that 
category, there must have been a finding (i.e., a decision) by the U.S. 
Court of Federal Claims or a civil court that a VICP-covered vaccine 
caused, or was presumed to have caused, the represented child's injury 
or death. Additionally, based on a recommendation made by the ACCV, the 
Secretary will consider having a health professional with expertise in 
obstetrics as one of the members of the general public. Interested 
applicants may self-nominate or be nominated by another individual or 
organization.
    Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee will be 
invited to serve for up to 3 years. Members are appointed as SGEs and 
receive a stipend and reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses 
incurred for attending ACCV meetings and/or conducting other business 
on behalf of the ACCV, as authorized by 5 U.S.C. 5703 for persons 
employed intermittently in government service.
    The following information must be included in the package of 
materials submitted for each individual nominated for consideration: 
(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) the name, address, daytime telephone number, 
and email address at which the nominator can be contacted; and (3) a 
current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae. The individual being 
nominated or the person/organization recommending the candidate may 
submit nomination packages directly to HRSA, which will collect and 
retain nomination packages to create a pool of possible future ACCV 
voting members. When a vacancy occurs, HRSA and HHS will review 
nomination packages from the appropriate category and nominees may be 
contacted at that time.
    HHS endeavors to ensure that the membership of the ACCV is fairly 
balanced in terms of points of view represented and that individuals 
from a broad representation of geographic areas, gender, and ethnic and 
minority groups, as well as individuals with disabilities, are 
considered for membership. Appointments shall be made without 
discrimination on the basis of race, age, ethnicity, national origin, 
gender, disability, sexual orientation, or cultural, religious, or 
socioeconomic status.
    Individuals who are selected to be considered for appointment will 
be required to provide detailed information regarding their financial 
holdings, consultancies, and research grants or contracts. Disclosure 
of this information is required for HRSA ethics officials to determine 
whether there is a potential conflict of interest between the SGE's 
public duties as a member of the ACCV and their private interests, 
including an appearance of a loss of impartiality as defined by federal 
laws and regulations, and to identify any required remedial action 
needed to address the potential conflict.
    Authority: 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 National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (Pub. L. 99-
660, as amended), HRSA is requesting nominations for voting members of 
the ACCV.

Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2022-19242 Filed 9-6-22; 8:45 am]
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