2023-11857. Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking nominations for membership on the ACIP. The ACIP consists of up to 20 experts in fields associated with immunization practices and public health, use of vaccines and other immunobiologic agents in clinical practice or preventive medicine, clinical or laboratory vaccine research, assessment of vaccine efficacy and safety, or have knowledge about consumer perspectives and/or social and community aspects of immunization programs.

DATES:

Nominations for membership on the ACIP must be received no later than August 1, 2023. Packages received after this time will not be considered for the current membership cycle.

ADDRESSES:

All nominations must be completed online at https://www.cdc.gov/​vaccines/​acip/​apply-for-membership/​index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephanie Thomas, Committee Management Specialist, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, CDC, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop H24–8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329–4027. Telephone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

ACIP members are selected by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide advice and guidance to the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the CDC on the control of vaccine-preventable diseases. The role of the ACIP is to provide advice that will lead to a reduction in the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases in the United States, and an increase in the safe use of vaccines and related biological products. The Committee also establishes, reviews, and as appropriate, revises the list of vaccines for administration to children eligible to receive vaccines through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program.

Nominations are being sought for individuals who have the expertise and qualifications necessary to contribute to the accomplishments of the committee's objectives. Nominees will be selected based on expertise in the fields of immunization practices; multi-disciplinary expertise in public health; expertise in the use of vaccines and immunologic agents in both clinical and preventive medicine; knowledge of vaccine development, evaluation, and vaccine delivery; or knowledge about consumer perspectives and/or social and community aspects of immunization programs. Members shall be deemed Special Government Employees. Federal employees will not be considered for membership. Members may be invited to serve for up to four-year terms. Selection of members is based on candidates' qualifications to contribute to the accomplishment of ACIP objectives ( https://www.cdc.gov/​vaccines/​acip/​index.html).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policy stipulates that committee membership be balanced in terms of points of view represented, and the committee's function. Appointments shall be made without discrimination on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, HIV status, disability, and cultural, religious, or socioeconomic status. Nominees must be U.S. citizens and cannot be full-time employees of the U.S. Government. Current participation on federal workgroups or prior experience serving on a federal advisory committee does not disqualify a candidate; however, HHS policy is to avoid excessive individual service on advisory committees and multiple committee memberships. Committee members are Special Government Employees (SGEs), requiring the filing of financial disclosure reports at the beginning and annually during their terms. CDC reviews potential candidates for ACIP membership each year and provides a slate of nominees for consideration to the Secretary of HHS for final selection. HHS notifies selected candidates of their appointment near the start of the term in July, or as soon as the HHS selection process is completed. Note that the need for different expertise varies from year to year and a candidate who is not selected in one year may be reconsidered in a subsequent year. SGE nominees must be U.S. citizens and cannot be full-time employees of the U.S. Government. Candidates should submit the following items:

Current curriculum vitae, including complete contact information (telephone numbers, mailing address, email address).

Two letters of recommendation from professional colleagues familiar with the candidate's work. A maximum of four letters of recommendation will be accepted.

○ Letters of recommendation should not come from current ACIP members.

○ At least one letter of recommendation from person(s) not employed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Candidates may submit letter(s) from current HHS employees if they wish, but at least one letter must be submitted by a person not employed by an HHS agency ( e.g., NIH, FDA, etc.). CDC employees should not provide letters of recommendation.

A cover letter that includes the candidate's statement of interest in serving on the ACIP, the qualifications and expertise that the candidate would bring, and written evidence to support how the candidate meets all relevant criteria.

Nominations may be submitted by the candidate him- or herself, or by the person/organization recommending the candidate.

The Director, Strategic Business Initiatives Unit, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Kalwant Smagh,

Director, Strategic Business Initiatives Unit, Office of the Chief Operating Officer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention