[Federal Register: December 24, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 248)]
[Notices]
[Page 79132-79133]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24de08-90]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Solicitation of Nominations for Membership on the National
Vaccine Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the
Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science.
ACTION: Notice.
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AUTHORITY: 42 U.S.C. 300aa-5, Section 2105 of the Public Health
Service (PHS) Act, as amended. The Committee is governed by the
provisions of Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2),
which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory
committees.
SUMMARY: The National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO), a program office
within the Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS), is soliciting nominations of qualified
candidates to be considered for appointment as members to the National
Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC). The activities of this Committee are
governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Management
support for the activities of this Committee is the responsibility of
the NVPO.
Consistent with the National Vaccine Plan, the Committee advises
and makes recommendations to the Assistant Secretary for Health in his
capacity as the Director of the National Vaccine Program, on matters
related to the Program's responsibilities. Specifically, the Committee
studies and recommends ways to encourage the availability of an
adequate supply of safe and effective vaccination products in the
United States; recommends research priorities and other measures to
enhance the safety and efficacy of vaccines. The Committee also advises
the Assistant Secretary for Health in the implementation of Sections
2102 and 2103 of the PHS Act; and identifies annually the most
important areas of government and non-government cooperation that
should be considered in implementing Sections 2102 and 2103 of the PHS
Act.
DATES: All nominations for membership on the Committee must be received
no later than 5 p.m. EDT on February 2, 2009, at the address listed
below.
ADDRESSES: All nominations should be mailed or delivered to: Bruce
Gellin, M.D., M.P.H., Executive Secretary, NVAC, Office of Public
Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services, 200
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 443-H, Hubert H. Humphrey Building;
Washington, DC 20201.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Andrea Krull, Public Health
Advisor, National Vaccine Program Office, Department of Health and
Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 443-H, Hubert H.
Humphrey Building, Washington, DC 20201; (202) 690-5566; nvpo@hhs.gov.
A copy of the Committee charter which includes the Committee's
structure and functions as well as a list of the current membership can
be obtained by contacting Ms. Krull or by accessing the NVAC Web site
at: http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/nvac.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Committee Function, Qualifications, and
Information Required: As part of an ongoing effort to enhance
deliberations and discussions with the public on vaccine and
immunization policy, nominations are being sought for interested
individuals to serve on the Committee. Individuals selected for
appointment to the Committee will serve as voting members. The NVAC
consists of 17 voting members. The Committee is composed of 15 public
members, including the Chair, and two representative members. Public
members shall be selected from individuals who are engaged in vaccine
research or the manufacture of vaccines, or who are physicians, members
of parent organizations concerned with immunizations, representatives
of state or local health agencies or public health organizations.
Representative members shall be selected from the vaccine manufacturing
industry who are engaged in vaccine research or the manufacture of
vaccines. Individuals selected for appointment to the Committee can be
invited to serve terms of up to four years.
All NVAC members are authorized to receive the prescribed per diem
allowance and reimbursement for travel expenses that are incurred to
attend meetings and conduct authorized Committee-related business, in
accordance with Standard Government Travel Regulations. Individuals who
are
[[Page 79133]]
appointed to serve as public members are authorized also to receive
honorarium for attending Committee meetings and to carry out other
authorized Committee-related business. Individuals who are appointed to
serve as representative members for a particular interest group or
industry are not authorized to receive honorarium for the performance
of these duties.
This announcement is to solicit nominations of qualified candidates
to fill positions on the NVAC that are scheduled to be vacated in the
public member category. The positions are scheduled to be vacated on
March 31, 2009.
Nominations
In accordance with the charter, persons nominated for appointment
as members of the NVAC should be among authorities knowledgeable in
areas related to vaccine safety, vaccine effectiveness, and vaccine
supply. Nominations should be typewritten. The following information
should be included in the package of material submitted for each
individual being nominated for consideration: (1) A letter of
nomination that clearly states the name and affiliation of the nominee,
the basis for the nomination (i.e., specific attributes which qualify
the nominee for service in this capacity); (2) a statement from the
nominee, bearing an original signature, that, if appointed, he or she
is willing to serve as a member of the Committee; (3) the nominator's
name, address and daytime telephone number, and the home and/or work
address, telephone number, and email address of the individual being
nominated; and (4) a current copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae.
Individuals can nominate themselves for consideration of
appointment to the Committee. All nominations must include the required
information. Incomplete nominations will not be processed for
consideration. The letter from the nominator and certification of the
nominated individual must bear original signatures; reproduced copies
of these signatures are not acceptable. Applications cannot be
submitted by facsimile. The names of Federal employees should not be
nominated for consideration of appointment to this Committee.
The Department makes every effort to ensure that the membership of
HHS Federal advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points
of view represented and the committee's function. Every effort is made
that a broad representation of geographic areas, gender, ethnic and
minority groups, and the disabled are given consideration for
membership on HHS Federal advisory committees. Appointment to this
committee shall be made without discrimination on the basis of age,
race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and cultural,
religious, or socioeconomic status.
The Standards of Ethical Conduct for Employees of the Executive
Branch are applicable to individuals who are appointed as public
members of Federal advisory committees. Individuals appointed to serve
as public members of Federal advisory committees are classified as
special Government employees (SGEs). SGEs are Government employees for
purposes of the conflict of interest laws. Therefore, individuals
appointed to serve as public members of NVAC are subject to an ethics
review. The ethics review is conducted to determine if the individual
has any interests and/or activities in the private sector that may
conflict with performance of their official duties as a member of the
Committee. Individuals appointed to serve as public members of the
Committee will be required to disclose information regarding financial
holdings, consultancies, and research grants and/or contracts.
Dated: December 8, 2008.
Bruce Gellin,
Director, National Vaccine Program Office, Executive Secretary,
National Vaccine Advisory Committee.
[FR Doc. E8-30614 Filed 12-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-44-P