[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57123-57124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17999]


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

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.

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

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

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. Electronic 
nomination packages can be submitted by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pita Gomez, Principal Staff Liaison, 
Division of Injury Compensation Programs, Health Systems Bureau, HRSA 
at 1-800-338-2382 or email at [email protected]. A copy of the ACCV charter 
and list of the current membership may be obtained by accessing the 
ACCV website at https://www.hrsa.gov/advisory-committees/vaccines/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ACCV was established by title XXI of the 
Public Health Service Act and advises the Secretary on issues related 
to implementation of the VICP. ACCV meets four times per year and at 
the call of the Chair.
    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 ACCV members with the expertise 
needed to

[[Page 57124]]

fulfill the duties of the Advisory Committee. The membership 
requirements are set forth in section 2119 of the Public Health Service 
Act.
    ACCV consists of nine voting members appointed by the Secretary as 
follows: (1) three health professionals, who are not employees of the 
United States 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 
nonvoting ex officio members.
    HHS will consider nominations of all qualified individuals to 
ensure 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 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 ACCV will be invited to 
serve for 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 
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 or resume. Nomination 
packages may be submitted directly by the individual being nominated or 
by the person/organization recommending the candidate. Nomination 
packages will be collected and retained to create a pool of possible 
future ACCV voting members. When a vacancy occurs, nomination packages 
from the appropriate category will be reviewed and nominees may be 
contacted at that time.
    HHS endeavors to ensure that ACCV's membership is 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 age, disability, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, 
national origin, 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 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, as 
amended) and the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (Pub. L. 99-660, 
as amended), HRSA is requesting nominations for voting members of ACCV.

Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2023-17999 Filed 8-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P