Department of Health and Human Services February 6, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) was established in 1987 to comply with Title XXI of the Public Health Service Act (Pub. L. 99-660) (Sec. 2105) (42 U.S. Code 300aa-5 (PDF78 KB)). Its purpose is to advise and make recommendations to the Director of the National Vaccine Program on matters related to program responsibilities. The Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH) has been designated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) as the Director of the National Vaccine Program. The National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) is located within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NVPO provides leadership and fosters collaboration among the various federal agencies involved in vaccine and immunization activities. The NVPO also supports the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC). The NVAC advises and makes recommendations to the ASH in his capacity as the Director of National Vaccine Program on matters related to vaccine program responsibilities. Adult vaccination rates remain low in the United States, and significant racial and ethnic disparities exist. In 2011, NVAC recommended the development of a strategic plan with the goal of improving adult immunization. Through an environmental scan of past reports issued by vaccine stakeholders, a survey, several focus groups, and in-depth interviews with subject matter experts, and in consultation with federal partners, NVPO has developed the draft National Adult Immunization Plan (NAIP). The NAIP details background on the immunization landscape and provides a strategic plan for federal and nonfederal stakeholders. NVPO is soliciting public comment on the draft NAIP from a variety of stakeholders, including the general public, for consideration as they develop their final report to the Secretary. It is anticipated that the draft NAIP, as revised with consideration given to public comment and stakeholder input, will be presented to the Secretary in the first quarter of 2015.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

The Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has initiated a strategic planning process that will culminate in the ODS Strategic Plan for 2015-2020. To assist with this process, the ODS requests input from research communities academic, government, and industryand from other interested parties.

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing regulations to implement Title XI of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), which amended provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) that govern the approval of 505(b)(2) applications and abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs). This proposed rule would implement portions of Title XI of the MMA that pertain to provision of notice to each patent owner and the new drug application (NDA) holder of certain patent certifications made by applicants submitting 505(b)(2) applications or ANDAs; the availability of 30-month stays of approval on 505(b)(2) applications and ANDAs that are otherwise ready to be approved; submission of amendments and supplements to 505(b)(2) applications and ANDAs; and the types of bioavailability and bioequivalence data that can be used to support these applications. This proposed rule also would amend certain regulations regarding 505(b)(2) applications and ANDAs to facilitate compliance with and efficient enforcement of the FD&C Act.