Meeting of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee

AGENCY:

Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

As stipulated by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is hereby giving notice that the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) will hold a meeting. The meeting is open to the public.

DATES:

The meeting will be held on October 5, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and on October 6, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES:

Department of Health and Human Services; Hubert H. Humphrey Building, Room 800; 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Ms. Emma English, Program Analyst, National Vaccine Program Office, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 725H Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201; (202) 690-5566, nvac@osophs.dhhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to Section 2101 of the Public Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300aa-1), the Secretary of Health and Human Services was mandated to establish the National Vaccine Program (NVP) to achieve optimal prevention of human infectious diseases through immunization and to achieve optimal prevention against adverse reactions to vaccines. The Secretary designated the Assistant Secretary for Health to serve as the Director, NVPO. The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) was established to provide advice and make recommendations to the Director, NVPO, on matters related to the program's responsibilities.

Topics to be discussed at the meeting include: Pandemic Influenza and the Pandemic Influenza Response and Preparedness Plan and the NVAC Influenza Working Group's assessment of domestic influenza issues/needs. Updates will be given on the NVAC Working Group on Public Participation, the NVAC Working Group on Vaccine Financing, the NVAC Vaccine Safety and Communications Subcommittee, the NVAC Futures Vaccines Subcommittee, and the NVAC Immunization Coverage Subcommittee. A tentative agenda will be made available on or about September 21 for review on the NVAC Web site: http://www.hhs.gov/nvpo/nvac .

Public attendance at the meeting is limited to space available. Individuals must provide a photo ID for entry into the Humphrey Building. Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, should notify the designated contact person. Members of the public will have the opportunity to provide comments at the meeting. Public comment will be limited to five minutes per speaker. Any members of the public who wish to have printed material distributed to NVAC members should submit materials to the Executive Secretary, NVAC, through the contact person listed above prior to close of business September 29, 2004. Preregistration is required for both public attendance and comment. Any individual who wishes to attend the meeting and/or participate in the public comment session should e-mail nvac@osophs.dhhs.gov