Notice of Availability of Draft Guidances To Assist in Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic, 31690-31691 [E8-12357]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
31690
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 3, 2008 / Notices
to the OS Paperwork Clearance Officer
at the above email address within 60
days.
Proposed Project: Trends in U.S.
Public Awareness of Racial and Ethnic
Health Disparities (1999–2008)—NewOffice of Minority Health (OMH).
Abstract: The proposed survey seeks
to collect data for one of OMH’s annual
performance measures, approved by
OMB in February 2007, following Office
of Management and Budget (OMB)’s
examination of OMH using the Program
Assessment Rating Tool (PART). This
measure is to ‘‘increase awareness of
racial/ethnic health status and health
care disparities in the general
population.’’ Findings from this data
collection will enable OMH to track
progress on this measure over time as
mandated by OMB PART requirements.
The lack of general awareness and
understanding about the nature and
extent of racial and ethnic health
disparities in the U.S. and the impact
that such disparities are having on the
overall health of the Nation have been
cited as a major barrier to the provision
of programmatic, budgetary, and policy
attention to these issues. Therefore, one
of the long-term, annual measures
agreed upon was to ‘‘increase awareness
of racial/ethnic health status and health
care disparities in the general
population.’’
Additionally, OMH can use the
findings about progress made in raising
awareness to identify collaborative
partners in the federal government, at
the state and local levels, among
businesses and non-profits, and among
the faith community, in order to reach
a wider audience. Further, these results
can be used by program decision-makers
and policy-makers, within and outside
of HHS, who are interested in capturing
progress made in the last eight years
after exposing the U.S. population to
information which confirms the
existence, and societal effects, of racial
and ethnic health disparities.
ESTIMATED ANNUALIZED BURDEN TABLE
Number of
respondents
Number of
responses
per
respondent
Average
burden per
response
(in hours)
General Population ..........................................................................................................
Physician ..........................................................................................................................
4,100
360
1
1
14/60
14/60
957
84
Total ..........................................................................................................................
....................
....................
....................
1,041
Type of respondent
Terry Nicolosi,
Office of the Secretary, Paperwork Reduction
Act Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–12290 Filed 6–2–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150–29–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Notice of Availability of Draft
Guidances To Assist in Preparation for
an Influenza Pandemic
Office of the Secretary, Health
and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
ebenthall on PRODPC60 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) is seeking public
comment on three draft guidances:
Interim Guidance on the Use and
Purchase of Facemasks and Respirators
by Individuals and Families for
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness;
Proposed Guidance on Antiviral Drug
Use during an Influenza Pandemic; and
Proposed Considerations for Antiviral
Drug Stockpiling by Employers In
Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic.
The draft Guidances are now available
on the HHS Web site https://
aspe.hhs.gov/panflu/antiviral-nmasks.htm
Submit comments on or before
July 3, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Instructions for Submitting
Comments: Electronic responses are
DATES:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:07 Jun 02, 2008
Jkt 214001
preferred. Comments on the Facemask
and Respirator guidance may be
addressed to
Panflucomments1@hhs.gov. Comments
on the Antiviral Use guidance may be
addressed to
Panflucomments2@hhs.gov. Comments
on the Employer Antiviral Stockpiling
guidance may be addressed to
Panflucomments3@hhs.gov. Written
responses should be addressed to U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services, Room 434E, 200 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201,
Attention: Pandemic Influenza Masks
Comments, Attention: Pandemic
Influenza Antiviral Comments, or
Attention: Pandemic Influenza
Employer Antiviral Comments,
respectively. A copy of this Notice and
the full text of the draft Guidances are
available on the HHS Web site at https://
aspe.hhs.gov/panflu/antiviral-nmasks.htm and the PandemicFlu.Gov
Web site at https://
www.pandemicflu.gov. Please follow
instructions for submitting responses.
The submission of comments in
response to this notice should not
exceed 25 pages for each guidance, not
including appendices and supplemental
documents. Any information you
submit will be made public.
Consequently, please do not send any
proprietary, commercial, financial,
business confidential, trade secret, or
personal information that you do not
wish to be made public.
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Total
burden
hours
Public Access: Responses to this
notice will be available to the public in
the HHS Public Reading Room, 200
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20201. Please call (202)
690–7453 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to
arrange access.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Julie Schafer, Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Preparedness and
Response, (202) 205–2882.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Influenza
viruses have threatened the health of
animal and human populations for
centuries. A pandemic occurs when a
novel strain of influenza virus emerges
that has the ability to infect and be
easily passed between humans. Because
humans have little immunity to the new
virus, many people may become ill and
a worldwide epidemic, or pandemic,
can ensue. Three human influenza
pandemics occurred in the 20th century.
In the United States (US) each pandemic
led to illness in approximately 30
percent of the population and death in
between 2 in 100 and 2 in 1000 of those
infected. It is projected that based on
this historical experience and given the
current U.S. population, a pandemic
today, absent effective control measures,
could result in the deaths of 200,000 to
2 million people in the U.S. alone.
The U.S. Government (USG) has
developed a comprehensive strategy to
prepare for and respond to an influenza
pandemic, including developing and
E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM
03JNN1
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 107 / Tuesday, June 3, 2008 / Notices
acquiring vaccine and antivirals to
prevent and treat illness, planning for
use of measures to reduce the spread of
the disease by asking ill persons to stay
home, voluntary quarantine of
household members who live with an ill
person, closure of child care facilities
and dismissal of students from schools,
decreasing the frequency and duration
of close contact among people to slow
transmission of infection (social
distancing), recommending hygiene
measures, and advising the use of
personal protective equipment in
certain situations. HHS has developed a
number of guidances to assist
government agencies, businesses,
community organizations, and the
public in their preparedness efforts,
utilizing these strategies. The three
guidance documents available for public
comment are part of this series and
should be reviewed as part of an overall
approach to pandemic preparedness.
With this notice, the USG requests
comment from the public and interested
stakeholders on three draft guidances:
Interim Guidance on the Use and
Purchase of Facemasks and Respirators
by Individuals and Families for
Pandemic Influenza Preparedness;
Proposed Guidance on Antiviral Drug
Use during an Influenza Pandemic; and
Proposed Considerations for Antiviral
Drug Stockpiling by Employers In
Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic.
The text of these draft guidances is
available in HTML and PDF formats
through the HHS Web site at https://
aspe.hhs.gov/panflu/antiviral-nmasks.htm and the PandemicFlu.Gov
Web site at https://
www.pandemicflu.gov. For those who
may not have Internet access, a hard
copy can be requested from the point of
contact, Ms. Julie Schafer, Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness
and Response, (202) 205–2882.
Dated: May 23, 2008.
W. Craig Vanderwagen,
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and
Response.
[FR Doc. E8–12357 Filed 6–2–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4151–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Surgeon General’s Conference on the
Prevention of Preterm Birth
Department of Health and
Human Services, Office of the Secretary.
ACTION: Notice.
ebenthall on PRODPC60 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Surgeon General’s Office,
in conjunction with the National
Institutes of Health, is hosting a
VerDate Aug<31>2005
14:18 Jun 02, 2008
Jkt 214001
conference titled: Surgeon General’s
Conference on the Prevention of Preterm
Birth. The conference is open to the
public.
The conference will be held on
June 17, 2008 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Bethesda North Marriott
Hotel and Conference Center, 5701
Marinelli Road, Rockville, Maryland
20852; (301) 822–9200.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Michele Kiely, Office of the Surgeon
General, Department of Health and
Human Services, Room 18–66, Parklawn
Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,
Maryland 20857; 301–443–0448,
Michele.Kiely@hhs.gov.
DATES:
Preterm
birth (PTB) remains one of the most
complicated research and public health
problems in obstetrics and pediatrics.
Nearly 12 percent of all babies in the
United States are born preterm, and this
rate continues to rise.
To underscore the importance of the
problem, the United States Congress
passed Public Law 109–450, the
Prematurity Research Expansion and
Education for Mothers Who Deliver
Infants Early Act (PREEMIE Act). The
Secretary of Health and Human
Services, acting through the Surgeon
General of the U.S. Public Health
Service, shall convene a conference to
address the growing epidemic of
preterm birth.
The purpose of the conference will be
to:
1. Increase awareness of preterm birth
as a serious, common, and costly public
health problem;
2. Review the findings and reports
issued by the Interagency Coordinating
Council, key stakeholders, and any
other relevant entities; and,
3. Establish an agenda for activities in
both the public and private sectors to
address the identification of, treatments
for, causes of, and risk factors for
preterm labor and delivery.
The Office of the Surgeon General, in
partnership with public and private
organizations, identified selected
experts and community leaders from the
research, public health, and medical
communities committed to preventing
preterm birth. Six (6) workgroups will
be charged with reviewing the available
published literature in advance of the
conference, including recommendations
from the Institute of Medicine report on
Preterm Birth and emerging literature
concerning activities needed to help
prevent preterm birth. The workgroups
will focus on specific key areas with the
goal of establishing a national agenda
and action plan for both the public and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
31691
private sectors to address the
identification of, treatments for, causes
of, and risk factors for preterm labor and
delivery. Each workgroup will be
challenged to determine what action
steps need to be taken to translate what
we know into what needs to be done.
The workgroups will also outline plans
for future research to obtain answers to
unresolved questions.
The work groups will focus on the key
areas of (1) Biomedical Research, (2)
Epidemiological Research, (3)
Psychosocial and Behavioral
Contributors to Preterm Birth, (4)
Professional Education and Training, (5)
Public Communication and Outreach,
and (6) Quality of Care and Health
Services.
On Tuesday, June 17, the work groups
will present a statement of their
collective assessment and a proposed
national agenda to a general audience.
Information useful in developing future
strategies to address this public health
concern will be presented in the final
session of the conference.
Advance information about the
conference and registration materials
can be found at https://
www.surgeongeneral.gov/ under
Features. Click on Surgeon General’s
Conference on Preventing Preterm Birth,
June 16–17, 2008. Public attendance is
limited to June 17, 2008 on a spaceavailable basis. Pre-registration at the
conference Web site is recommended. If
space is available on the date of the
conference, registration will be available
at the door beginning at 7 a.m. Members
of the public will have an opportunity
to provide comments at the conference.
Public comments will be limited to
three minutes per speaker. Materials
will be made available at the Web site
several weeks before the meeting. Any
members of the public who wish to
share their views with the work groups
before sessions begin can do so at the
Web site prior to close of business on
June 9, 2008. Additionally, the event
will be live video/Webcast and can be
viewed during the conference at
https://videocast.nih.gov.
Individuals who plan to attend and
need special assistance, such as sign
language interpretation or other
reasonable accommodations, should
notify the designated contact person.
Dated: May 28, 2008.
Steven K. Galson,
RADM, USPHS, Acting Surgeon General.
[FR Doc. E8–12341 Filed 6–2–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
E:\FR\FM\03JNN1.SGM
03JNN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31690-31691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12357]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Notice of Availability of Draft Guidances To Assist in
Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking
public comment on three draft guidances: Interim Guidance on the Use
and Purchase of Facemasks and Respirators by Individuals and Families
for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness; Proposed Guidance on Antiviral
Drug Use during an Influenza Pandemic; and Proposed Considerations for
Antiviral Drug Stockpiling by Employers In Preparation for an Influenza
Pandemic. The draft Guidances are now available on the HHS Web site
https://aspe.hhs.gov/panflu/antiviral-n-masks.htm
DATES: Submit comments on or before July 3, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Instructions for Submitting Comments: Electronic responses
are preferred. Comments on the Facemask and Respirator guidance may be
addressed to Panflucomments1@hhs.gov. Comments on the Antiviral Use
guidance may be addressed to Panflucomments2@hhs.gov. Comments on the
Employer Antiviral Stockpiling guidance may be addressed to
Panflucomments3@hhs.gov. Written responses should be addressed to U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, Room 434E, 200 Independence
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201, Attention: Pandemic Influenza Masks
Comments, Attention: Pandemic Influenza Antiviral Comments, or
Attention: Pandemic Influenza Employer Antiviral Comments,
respectively. A copy of this Notice and the full text of the draft
Guidances are available on the HHS Web site at https://aspe.hhs.gov/
panflu/antiviral-n-masks.htm and the PandemicFlu.Gov Web site at http:/
/www.pandemicflu.gov. Please follow instructions for submitting
responses.
The submission of comments in response to this notice should not
exceed 25 pages for each guidance, not including appendices and
supplemental documents. Any information you submit will be made public.
Consequently, please do not send any proprietary, commercial,
financial, business confidential, trade secret, or personal information
that you do not wish to be made public.
Public Access: Responses to this notice will be available to the
public in the HHS Public Reading Room, 200 Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20201. Please call (202) 690-7453 between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m. to arrange access.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Julie Schafer, Office of the
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, (202) 205-2882.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Influenza viruses have threatened the health
of animal and human populations for centuries. A pandemic occurs when a
novel strain of influenza virus emerges that has the ability to infect
and be easily passed between humans. Because humans have little
immunity to the new virus, many people may become ill and a worldwide
epidemic, or pandemic, can ensue. Three human influenza pandemics
occurred in the 20th century. In the United States (US) each pandemic
led to illness in approximately 30 percent of the population and death
in between 2 in 100 and 2 in 1000 of those infected. It is projected
that based on this historical experience and given the current U.S.
population, a pandemic today, absent effective control measures, could
result in the deaths of 200,000 to 2 million people in the U.S. alone.
The U.S. Government (USG) has developed a comprehensive strategy to
prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic, including developing
and
[[Page 31691]]
acquiring vaccine and antivirals to prevent and treat illness, planning
for use of measures to reduce the spread of the disease by asking ill
persons to stay home, voluntary quarantine of household members who
live with an ill person, closure of child care facilities and dismissal
of students from schools, decreasing the frequency and duration of
close contact among people to slow transmission of infection (social
distancing), recommending hygiene measures, and advising the use of
personal protective equipment in certain situations. HHS has developed
a number of guidances to assist government agencies, businesses,
community organizations, and the public in their preparedness efforts,
utilizing these strategies. The three guidance documents available for
public comment are part of this series and should be reviewed as part
of an overall approach to pandemic preparedness.
With this notice, the USG requests comment from the public and
interested stakeholders on three draft guidances: Interim Guidance on
the Use and Purchase of Facemasks and Respirators by Individuals and
Families for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness; Proposed Guidance on
Antiviral Drug Use during an Influenza Pandemic; and Proposed
Considerations for Antiviral Drug Stockpiling by Employers In
Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic. The text of these draft
guidances is available in HTML and PDF formats through the HHS Web site
at https://aspe.hhs.gov/panflu/antiviral-n-masks.htm and the
PandemicFlu.Gov Web site at https://www.pandemicflu.gov. For those who
may not have Internet access, a hard copy can be requested from the
point of contact, Ms. Julie Schafer, Office of the Assistant Secretary
for Preparedness and Response, (202) 205-2882.
Dated: May 23, 2008.
W. Craig Vanderwagen,
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.
[FR Doc. E8-12357 Filed 6-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4151-04-P
