[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 4, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71907-71908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19808]


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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 to 
consider for appointment as members of the Advisory Commission on 
Childhood Vaccines (ACCV or Commission). 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 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 08W-25A, 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

[[Page 71908]]

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 each calendar 
year, or at the discretion of the Designated Federal Officer in 
consultation with the Chair.
    Nominations: HRSA is requesting nominations for voting members to 
serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs) on ACCV to fill open 
positions. The Secretary appoints ACCV members with the expertise 
needed to fulfill the duties of the Commission. 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, at least two of the three ACCV members from the 
general public must be legal representatives (parents or guardians) 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 from the general public. Interested applicants 
may self-nominate or be nominated by another individual or 
organization.
    Individuals selected for appointment to the Commission will be 
invited to serve for up to 3 years. Members appointed as SGEs 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 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 the membership of ACCV 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 42 U.S.C. 300aa-19, section 2119 of the Public Health 
Services (PHS) Act, HRSA is requesting nominations for voting members 
of ACCV.

Maria G. Button,
Director, Executive Secretariat.
[FR Doc. 2024-19808 Filed 9-3-24; 8:45 am]
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