2024-15792. Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

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Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

AGENCY:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations for membership on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP consists of up to 19 experts in fields associated with immunization practices and public health, use of vaccines and other immunobiological 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 15, 2024. 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, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop H24-8, Atlanta, Georgia 30329-4027. Telephone: [phone]; Email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is charged with advising the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on the use of immunizing agents. In addition, under 42 U.S.C. 1396s, the Committee is mandated to establish and periodically review and, as appropriate, revise the list of vaccines for administration to vaccine-eligible children through the Vaccines for Children program, along with schedules regarding dosing interval, dosage, and contraindications to administration of vaccines. Further, under applicable provisions of the Affordable Care Act and section 2713 of the Public Health Service Act and implementing regulations, immunization recommendations of ACIP that have been approved by the Director, CDC, and appear on CDC immunization schedules generally must be covered by applicable health plans.

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. 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 ( http://www.cdc.gov/​vaccines/​acip/​index.html).

HHS 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, 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 2025, 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 HHS. 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., National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 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 or by the person/organization recommending the candidate.

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