82_FR_6435 82 FR 6423 - National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: Statement of Reasons for Not Conducting a Rulemaking Proceeding

82 FR 6423 - National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: Statement of Reasons for Not Conducting a Rulemaking Proceeding

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Health Resources and Services Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 12 (January 19, 2017)

Page Range6423-6425
FR Document2017-00700

In accordance with section 2114(c)(2)(B) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-14(c)(2)(B), notice is hereby given concerning the reasons for not conducting a rulemaking proceeding to add neurological disorders or conditions as injuries associated with seasonal influenza vaccines to the Vaccine Injury Table.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 12 (Thursday, January 19, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6423-6425]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-00700]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

42 CFR Part 100


National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program: Statement of 
Reasons for Not Conducting a Rulemaking Proceeding

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Denial of petition for rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 2114(c)(2)(B) of the Public Health 
Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-14(c)(2)(B), notice is hereby given 
concerning the reasons for not conducting a rulemaking proceeding to 
add neurological disorders or conditions as injuries associated with 
seasonal influenza vaccines to the Vaccine Injury Table.

DATES: Written comments are not being solicited.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Narayan Nair, MD, Director, Division 
of Injury Compensation Programs (DICP), Healthcare Systems Bureau, 
Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 
8N146B, Rockville, Maryland 20857, or by telephone 301-443-6593.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 
1986, (Vaccine Act), Title III of Public Law 99-660, established the 
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) for persons found 
to be injured by vaccines.\1\ Under this federal program, petitions for 
compensation are filed with the United States Court of Federal Claims 
(Court). The Court, acting through special masters, makes findings as 
to eligibility for, and amount of, compensation. To gain entitlement to 
compensation under VICP for a covered vaccine, a petitioner must 
establish a vaccine-related injury or death in one of the following 
ways (unless another cause is found): (1) By proving that the first 
symptom of an injury or condition, as defined by the Qualifications and 
Aids to Interpretation, occurred within the time period listed on the 
Vaccine Injury Table (Table), and, therefore, is presumed to be caused 
by a vaccine; (2) by proving vaccine causation, if the injury or 
condition is not on the Table or did not occur within the time period 
specified on the Table; or (3) by proving that the vaccine 
significantly aggravated a pre-existing condition.
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    \1\ 42 U.S.C. 300 aa-10 et seq.
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    The statute authorizing VICP provides for the inclusion of 
additional vaccines in VICP when they are recommended by the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention for routine administration to 
children.\2\ Consistent with section 13632(a)(3) of Public Law 103-66, 
the regulations governing VICP provide that such vaccines will be 
included in the Table as of the effective date of an excise tax to 
provide funds for the payment of compensation with respect to such 
vaccines.\3\ The statute authorizing VICP also authorizes the Secretary 
to create and modify a list of injuries, disabilities, illnesses, 
conditions, and deaths (and their associated time frames) associated 
with each category of vaccines included on the Table.\4\ Finally, the 
Vaccine Act provides that:
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    \2\ Section 2114(e)(2) of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-14(e)(2).
    \3\ 42 CFR 100.3(c)(8).
    \4\ Sections 2114(c) and 2114(e)(2) of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. 
300aa-14(c) and 300aa-14(e)(2).

[a]ny person (including the Advisory Commission on Childhood 
Vaccines) [the Commission] may petition the Secretary to propose 
regulations to amend the Vaccine Injury Table. Unless clearly 
frivolous, or initiated by the Commission, any such petition shall 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
be referred to the Commission for its recommendations. Following--

    (A) Receipt of any recommendation of the Commission, or
    (B) 180 days after the date of the referral to the Commission,

whichever occurs first, the Secretary shall conduct a rule-making 
proceeding on the matters proposed in the petition or publish

[[Page 6424]]

in the Federal Register a statement or reasons for not conducting 
such proceeding.\5\
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    \5\ Section 2114(c)(2) of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa-14(c)(2).

    On January 28, 2016, a private citizen submitted a petition to the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting that: (1) Any 
adverse neurological disorder or condition be added to the Table for 
the seasonal influenza vaccines; and (2) if any adverse neurological 
disorder or condition was too broad in scope, then at least 
anaphylaxis, Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (SIRVA), 
vasovagal syncope, multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain-Barr[eacute] 
Syndrome (GBS), transverse myelitis (TM), and myelitis be added to the 
Table for the seasonal influenza vaccine. The petitioner asserted that 
based on Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) data and 
Department of Justice (DOJ) quarterly reports on vaccine settlements, 
which were presented at Commission meetings, there is sufficient 
evidence to add these conditions as injuries associated with the 
seasonal influenza vaccine to the Table. The petitioner did not provide 
any medical or scientific literature to accompany the request.
    Pursuant to the Vaccine Act, the petition was referred to the 
Commission on June 3, 2016. The Commission voted unanimously to 
recommend that the Secretary not proceed with rulemaking to amend the 
Table to include ``any adverse neurological disorder or condition,'' 
MS, TM, or myelitis as injuries associated with seasonal influenza 
vaccines as requested in the petition.
    The petitioner requested the addition of any adverse neurological 
disorder or condition to the Table for the seasonal influenza vaccine. 
The petitioner alleged that the DOJ quarterly reports on vaccine 
settlement cases and VAERS data support the inclusion of all of these 
conditions to the Table. However, neither of these sources of data is 
sufficient to modify the Table. The DOJ quarterly report is the report 
that DOJ provides and discusses at the quarterly Commission meetings 
and is made available to the public at http://www.hrsa.gov/advisorycommittees/childhoodvaccines/meetings.html. The report includes 
a list of adjudicated settlements for the applicable quarter by vaccine 
and alleged injury, and time frame from petition filing to settlement 
filing. In negotiated settlements between the parties, HHS has not 
concluded, based upon review of the evidence, that the alleged 
vaccine(s) caused the alleged injury. These settlements are not an 
admission by the United States or the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services that the vaccine caused the petitioner's alleged injury, and, 
in settled cases, the Court does not determine that the vaccine caused 
the injury. Therefore, a settlement cannot be characterized as a 
decision by HHS or by the Court that the vaccine caused an injury. 
Thus, information from negotiated settlements cannot be used to 
establish that vaccines cause certain injuries.
    The purposes of VAERS data are to: Detect new, unusual, or rare 
vaccine adverse events; identify potential patient risk factors for 
particular types of adverse events; identify vaccine lots with 
increased numbers or types of reported adverse events; and assess the 
safety of newly licensed vaccines. The VAERS data are considered a 
useful tool in vaccine safety, but VAERS reports by themselves 
generally cannot demonstrate that vaccines cause injuries.
    In 2008, the Secretary contracted with the Institute of Medicine 
(IOM) to review the epidemiologic, clinical, and biological evidence 
regarding adverse health events associated with specific vaccines 
covered by VICP. The results of this review were published in the 2012 
IOM Report, ``Adverse Effects of Vaccines: Evidence and Causality.'' 
This report reviewed 8 of the 12 vaccines covered by the VICP and 
provided 158 causality conclusions. The 2012 IOM Report reviewed the 
medical and scientific literature regarding a causal relationship 
between seasonal influenza vaccines and the following conditions: 
Encephalopathy, encephalitis, seizures, acute disseminated 
encephalomyelitis, TM, optic neuritis, neuromyelitis optica, MS, MS 
relapse, GBS, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Bell's 
palsy, brachial neuritis, and small fiber neuropathy. The IOM concluded 
that the evidence is inadequate to accept or reject a causal 
relationship between influenza vaccines and the above conditions. 
Therefore, ``any adverse neurological disorder or condition,'' as 
suggested by the petitioner will not be added as injuries caused by the 
seasonal influenza vaccine to the Table since the medical and 
scientific literature is not sufficient to support this change.
    The petitioner also requested that certain conditions be added to 
the Table if ``any adverse neurological disorder or condition'' could 
not be added to the Table. These conditions include: Anaphylaxis, 
SIRVA, vasovagal syncope, MS, GBS, TM, and myelitis. The petitioner 
stated that VAERS and settlement data from quarterly reports support 
the inclusion of these conditions for seasonal influenza vaccines to 
the Table. However, as explained above, the VAERS data and the DOJ 
quarterly report do not demonstrate that vaccines cause injuries and do 
not establish causality. As stated previously, the 2012 IOM Report 
reviewed the medical and scientific literature regarding causal 
relationships between seasonal influenza vaccines and MS, TM, and 
myelitis. The IOM concluded that the evidence is inadequate to accept 
or reject a causal relationship between influenza vaccines and these 
conditions.
    More recent studies support the lack of an association between the 
seasonal influenza vaccine and neurologic conditions, such as MS. The 
Williamson, et al. study found no substantiation to reports suggesting 
a link between MS and vaccines and that most of the studies that 
purported an increased risk of MS or relapse of MS after vaccination 
were small case series, which are methodologically less robust than 
other epidemiologic studies.\6\ In addition, Langer-Gould, et al. 
conducted a nested case control study that found no long-term 
association between vaccines and MS or other central nervous system 
acquired demyelinating syndromes.\7\ Therefore, MS, TM, and myelitis 
will not be added to the Table as injuries associated with the seasonal 
influenza vaccine since the medical and scientific literature is not 
sufficient to support those changes.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Williamson et al. Vaccines in Multiple Sclerosis, Curr 
Neurol Neurosci Rep 2016 16:36.
    \7\ Langer-Gould et al., Vaccines and the risk of MS and other 
CNS Demyelinating Diseases, JAMA Neurol. 2014:71(12): 1506-13.
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    HHS proposed certain changes to the Vaccine Injury Table in a 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register 
on July 29, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 45132 (July 29, 2015)). Among other 
proposed changes, anaphylaxis, SIRVA, GBS, and vasovagal syncope were 
proposed to be added as injuries for seasonal influenza vaccines. HHS 
is adding these injuries with the final rule, titled ``National Vaccine 
Injury Compensation Program: Revisions to the Vaccine Injury Table,'' 
concurrently publishing in the Federal Register.
    In conclusion, there is no reliable evidence to support the 
addition of ``any adverse neurological disorder or condition,'' MS, TM, 
or myelitis to the Table as injuries associated with the seasonal 
influenza vaccine. Therefore, the Table will not be amended at this 
time to include those injuries on the Table.


[[Page 6425]]


    Dated: January 9, 2017.
Sylvia M. Burwell,
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services.
[FR Doc. 2017-00700 Filed 1-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4165-15-P



                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                                    6423

                                                      Region 10 Office (please contact the                    impose substantial direct costs on tribal              Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
                                                      person identified in the FOR FURTHER                    governments or preempt tribal law. This                (VICP) for persons found to be injured
                                                      INFORMATION CONTACT section of this                     SIP revision is not approved to apply in               by vaccines.1 Under this federal
                                                      preamble for more information).                         Indian reservations in the State, or any               program, petitions for compensation are
                                                                                                              other area where the EPA or an Indian                  filed with the United States Court of
                                                      V. Statutory and Executive Order
                                                                                                              tribe has demonstrated that a tribe has                Federal Claims (Court). The Court,
                                                      Reviews
                                                                                                              jurisdiction.                                          acting through special masters, makes
                                                         Under the CAA, the Administrator is                                                                         findings as to eligibility for, and amount
                                                      required to approve a SIP submission                    List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52
                                                                                                                                                                     of, compensation. To gain entitlement to
                                                      that complies with the provisions of the                  Environmental protection, Air                        compensation under VICP for a covered
                                                      CAA and applicable Federal regulations.                 pollution control, Carbon monoxide,                    vaccine, a petitioner must establish a
                                                      42 U.S.C. 7410(k); 40 CFR 52.02(a).                     Incorporation by reference,                            vaccine-related injury or death in one of
                                                      Thus, in reviewing SIP submissions, the                 Intergovernmental relations, Lead,                     the following ways (unless another
                                                      EPA’s role is to approve state choices,                 Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Particulate                   cause is found): (1) By proving that the
                                                      provided that they meet the criteria of                 matter, Reporting and recordkeeping                    first symptom of an injury or condition,
                                                      the CAA. Accordingly, this proposed                     requirements, Sulfur oxides, Volatile                  as defined by the Qualifications and
                                                      action merely approves the state’s law                  organic compounds.                                     Aids to Interpretation, occurred within
                                                      as meeting Federal requirements and                       Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.                    the time period listed on the Vaccine
                                                      does not impose additional                                                                                     Injury Table (Table), and, therefore, is
                                                                                                                Dated: January 4, 2017.
                                                      requirements beyond those imposed by                                                                           presumed to be caused by a vaccine; (2)
                                                      the state’s law. For that reason, this                  Dennis J. McLerran,
                                                                                                                                                                     by proving vaccine causation, if the
                                                      proposed action:                                        Regional Administrator, Region 10.                     injury or condition is not on the Table
                                                         • Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory                  [FR Doc. 2017–01090 Filed 1–18–17; 8:45 am]            or did not occur within the time period
                                                      action’’ subject to review by the Office                BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                 specified on the Table; or (3) by proving
                                                      of Management and Budget under                                                                                 that the vaccine significantly aggravated
                                                      Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735,                                                                            a pre-existing condition.
                                                      October 4, 1993);                                       DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                         • Does not impose an information                                                                               The statute authorizing VICP provides
                                                                                                              HUMAN SERVICES                                         for the inclusion of additional vaccines
                                                      collection burden under the provisions
                                                      of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44                      Health Resources and Services                          in VICP when they are recommended by
                                                      U.S.C. 3501 et seq.);                                   Administration                                         the Centers for Disease Control and
                                                         • Is certified as not having a                                                                              Prevention for routine administration to
                                                      significant economic impact on a                        42 CFR Part 100                                        children.2 Consistent with section
                                                      substantial number of small entities                                                                           13632(a)(3) of Public Law 103–66, the
                                                      under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5                 National Vaccine Injury Compensation                   regulations governing VICP provide that
                                                      U.S.C. 601 et seq.);                                    Program: Statement of Reasons for                      such vaccines will be included in the
                                                         • Does not contain any unfunded                      Not Conducting a Rulemaking                            Table as of the effective date of an
                                                      mandate or significantly or uniquely                    Proceeding                                             excise tax to provide funds for the
                                                      affect small governments, as described                                                                         payment of compensation with respect
                                                                                                              AGENCY: Health Resources and Services                  to such vaccines.3 The statute
                                                      in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                                                                                              Administration (HRSA), Department of                   authorizing VICP also authorizes the
                                                      of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–4);
                                                                                                              Health and Human Services (HHS).
                                                         • Does not have Federalism                                                                                  Secretary to create and modify a list of
                                                      implications as specified in Executive                  ACTION: Denial of petition for                         injuries, disabilities, illnesses,
                                                      Order 13132 (64 FR 43255, August 10,                    rulemaking.                                            conditions, and deaths (and their
                                                      1999);                                                                                                         associated time frames) associated with
                                                                                                              SUMMARY:   In accordance with section
                                                         • Is not an economically significant                 2114(c)(2)(B) of the Public Health
                                                                                                                                                                     each category of vaccines included on
                                                      regulatory action based on health or                                                                           the Table.4 Finally, the Vaccine Act
                                                                                                              Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 300aa–
                                                      safety risks subject to Executive Order                                                                        provides that:
                                                                                                              14(c)(2)(B), notice is hereby given
                                                      13045 (62 FR 19885, April 23, 1997);                    concerning the reasons for not                         [a]ny person (including the Advisory
                                                         • Is not a significant regulatory action             conducting a rulemaking proceeding to                  Commission on Childhood Vaccines) [the
                                                      subject to Executive Order 13211 (66 FR                 add neurological disorders or conditions               Commission] may petition the Secretary to
                                                      28355, May 22, 2001);                                   as injuries associated with seasonal                   propose regulations to amend the Vaccine
                                                         • Is not subject to the requirements of                                                                     Injury Table. Unless clearly frivolous, or
                                                                                                              influenza vaccines to the Vaccine Injury               initiated by the Commission, any such
                                                      section 12(d) of the National
                                                                                                              Table.                                                 petition shall be referred to the Commission
                                                      Technology Transfer and Advancement
                                                                                                              DATES: Written comments are not being                  for its recommendations. Following—
                                                      Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) because
                                                      this action does not involve technical                  solicited.                                                (A) Receipt of any recommendation of the
                                                      standards; and                                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       Commission, or
                                                         • Does not provide the EPA with the                  Narayan Nair, MD, Director, Division of                   (B) 180 days after the date of the referral
                                                      discretionary authority to address, as                  Injury Compensation Programs (DICP),                   to the Commission,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      appropriate, disproportionate human                     Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health                      whichever occurs first, the Secretary shall
                                                      health or environmental effects, using                  Resources and Services Administration,                 conduct a rule-making proceeding on the
                                                                                                              5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8N146B,                        matters proposed in the petition or publish
                                                      practicable and legally permissible
                                                      methods, under Executive Order 12898                    Rockville, Maryland 20857, or by
                                                                                                                                                                       1 42 U.S.C. 300 aa–10 et seq.
                                                      (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).                        telephone 301–443–6593.
                                                                                                                                                                       2 Section 2114(e)(2) of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C.
                                                         In addition, this rule does not have                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                                                                                                                                     300aa–14(e)(2).
                                                      tribal implications as specified by                     National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act                    3 42 CFR 100.3(c)(8).
                                                      Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249,                     of 1986, (Vaccine Act), Title III of Public              4 Sections 2114(c) and 2114(e)(2) of the PHS Act,

                                                      November 9, 2000), because it will not                  Law 99–660, established the National                   42 U.S.C. 300aa–14(c) and 300aa–14(e)(2).



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                                                      6424                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 2017 / Proposed Rules

                                                      in the Federal Register a statement or reasons          admission by the United States or the                  conditions for seasonal influenza
                                                      for not conducting such proceeding.5                    Secretary of Health and Human Services                 vaccines to the Table. However, as
                                                         On January 28, 2016, a private citizen               that the vaccine caused the petitioner’s               explained above, the VAERS data and
                                                      submitted a petition to the Department                  alleged injury, and, in settled cases, the             the DOJ quarterly report do not
                                                      of Health and Human Services (HHS)                      Court does not determine that the                      demonstrate that vaccines cause injuries
                                                      requesting that: (1) Any adverse                        vaccine caused the injury. Therefore, a                and do not establish causality. As stated
                                                      neurological disorder or condition be                   settlement cannot be characterized as a                previously, the 2012 IOM Report
                                                      added to the Table for the seasonal                     decision by HHS or by the Court that the               reviewed the medical and scientific
                                                      influenza vaccines; and (2) if any                      vaccine caused an injury. Thus,                        literature regarding causal relationships
                                                      adverse neurological disorder or                        information from negotiated settlements                between seasonal influenza vaccines
                                                      condition was too broad in scope, then                  cannot be used to establish that vaccines              and MS, TM, and myelitis. The IOM
                                                      at least anaphylaxis, Shoulder Injury                   cause certain injuries.                                concluded that the evidence is
                                                      Related to Vaccine Administration                          The purposes of VAERS data are to:                  inadequate to accept or reject a causal
                                                      (SIRVA), vasovagal syncope, multiple                    Detect new, unusual, or rare vaccine                   relationship between influenza vaccines
                                                      sclerosis (MS), Guillain-Barré Syndrome                adverse events; identify potential                     and these conditions.
                                                      (GBS), transverse myelitis (TM), and                    patient risk factors for particular types
                                                                                                                                                                        More recent studies support the lack
                                                      myelitis be added to the Table for the                  of adverse events; identify vaccine lots
                                                                                                                                                                     of an association between the seasonal
                                                      seasonal influenza vaccine. The                         with increased numbers or types of
                                                                                                                                                                     influenza vaccine and neurologic
                                                      petitioner asserted that based on                       reported adverse events; and assess the
                                                                                                                                                                     conditions, such as MS. The
                                                      Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting                         safety of newly licensed vaccines. The
                                                                                                                                                                     Williamson, et al. study found no
                                                      System (VAERS) data and Department                      VAERS data are considered a useful tool
                                                                                                                                                                     substantiation to reports suggesting a
                                                      of Justice (DOJ) quarterly reports on                   in vaccine safety, but VAERS reports by
                                                                                                              themselves generally cannot                            link between MS and vaccines and that
                                                      vaccine settlements, which were                                                                                most of the studies that purported an
                                                      presented at Commission meetings,                       demonstrate that vaccines cause
                                                                                                              injuries.                                              increased risk of MS or relapse of MS
                                                      there is sufficient evidence to add these                                                                      after vaccination were small case series,
                                                      conditions as injuries associated with                     In 2008, the Secretary contracted with
                                                                                                              the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to                     which are methodologically less robust
                                                      the seasonal influenza vaccine to the                                                                          than other epidemiologic studies.6 In
                                                      Table. The petitioner did not provide                   review the epidemiologic, clinical, and
                                                                                                              biological evidence regarding adverse                  addition, Langer-Gould, et al. conducted
                                                      any medical or scientific literature to                                                                        a nested case control study that found
                                                      accompany the request.                                  health events associated with specific
                                                                                                              vaccines covered by VICP. The results of               no long-term association between
                                                         Pursuant to the Vaccine Act, the
                                                                                                              this review were published in the 2012                 vaccines and MS or other central
                                                      petition was referred to the Commission
                                                                                                              IOM Report, ‘‘Adverse Effects of                       nervous system acquired demyelinating
                                                      on June 3, 2016. The Commission voted
                                                                                                              Vaccines: Evidence and Causality.’’ This               syndromes.7 Therefore, MS, TM, and
                                                      unanimously to recommend that the
                                                      Secretary not proceed with rulemaking                   report reviewed 8 of the 12 vaccines                   myelitis will not be added to the Table
                                                      to amend the Table to include ‘‘any                     covered by the VICP and provided 158                   as injuries associated with the seasonal
                                                      adverse neurological disorder or                        causality conclusions. The 2012 IOM                    influenza vaccine since the medical and
                                                      condition,’’ MS, TM, or myelitis as                     Report reviewed the medical and                        scientific literature is not sufficient to
                                                      injuries associated with seasonal                       scientific literature regarding a causal               support those changes.
                                                      influenza vaccines as requested in the                  relationship between seasonal influenza                   HHS proposed certain changes to the
                                                      petition.                                               vaccines and the following conditions:                 Vaccine Injury Table in a Notice of
                                                         The petitioner requested the addition                Encephalopathy, encephalitis, seizures,                Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
                                                      of any adverse neurological disorder or                 acute disseminated encephalomyelitis,                  published in the Federal Register on
                                                      condition to the Table for the seasonal                 TM, optic neuritis, neuromyelitis optica,              July 29, 2015 (80 Fed. Reg. 45132 (July
                                                      influenza vaccine. The petitioner                       MS, MS relapse, GBS, chronic                           29, 2015)). Among other proposed
                                                      alleged that the DOJ quarterly reports on               inflammatory demyelinating                             changes, anaphylaxis, SIRVA, GBS, and
                                                      vaccine settlement cases and VAERS                      polyneuropathy, Bell’s palsy, brachial                 vasovagal syncope were proposed to be
                                                      data support the inclusion of all of these              neuritis, and small fiber neuropathy.                  added as injuries for seasonal influenza
                                                      conditions to the Table. However,                       The IOM concluded that the evidence is                 vaccines. HHS is adding these injuries
                                                      neither of these sources of data is                     inadequate to accept or reject a causal                with the final rule, titled ‘‘National
                                                      sufficient to modify the Table. The DOJ                 relationship between influenza vaccines                Vaccine Injury Compensation Program:
                                                      quarterly report is the report that DOJ                 and the above conditions. Therefore,                   Revisions to the Vaccine Injury Table,’’
                                                      provides and discusses at the quarterly                 ‘‘any adverse neurological disorder or                 concurrently publishing in the Federal
                                                      Commission meetings and is made                         condition,’’ as suggested by the                       Register.
                                                      available to the public at http://                      petitioner will not be added as injuries
                                                                                                                                                                        In conclusion, there is no reliable
                                                      www.hrsa.gov/advisorycommittees/                        caused by the seasonal influenza
                                                                                                                                                                     evidence to support the addition of ‘‘any
                                                      childhoodvaccines/meetings.html. The                    vaccine to the Table since the medical
                                                                                                                                                                     adverse neurological disorder or
                                                      report includes a list of adjudicated                   and scientific literature is not sufficient
                                                                                                                                                                     condition,’’ MS, TM, or myelitis to the
                                                      settlements for the applicable quarter by               to support this change.
                                                                                                                 The petitioner also requested that                  Table as injuries associated with the
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      vaccine and alleged injury, and time                                                                           seasonal influenza vaccine. Therefore,
                                                      frame from petition filing to settlement                certain conditions be added to the Table
                                                                                                              if ‘‘any adverse neurological disorder or              the Table will not be amended at this
                                                      filing. In negotiated settlements between                                                                      time to include those injuries on the
                                                      the parties, HHS has not concluded,                     condition’’ could not be added to the
                                                                                                              Table. These conditions include:                       Table.
                                                      based upon review of the evidence, that
                                                      the alleged vaccine(s) caused the alleged               Anaphylaxis, SIRVA, vasovagal
                                                                                                                                                                       6 Williamson et al. Vaccines in Multiple Sclerosis,
                                                      injury. These settlements are not an                    syncope, MS, GBS, TM, and myelitis.
                                                                                                                                                                     Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2016 16:36.
                                                                                                              The petitioner stated that VAERS and                     7 Langer-Gould et al., Vaccines and the risk of MS
                                                        5 Section 2114(c)(2) of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C.        settlement data from quarterly reports                 and other CNS Demyelinating Diseases, JAMA
                                                      300aa–14(c)(2).                                         support the inclusion of these                         Neurol. 2014:71(12): 1506–13.



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                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 12 / Thursday, January 19, 2017 / Proposed Rules                                           6425

                                                        Dated: January 9, 2017.                                 Comments received generally will be                  3024.70, Privacy Training and HSAR
                                                      Sylvia M. Burwell,                                      posted without change to http://                       3052.224–7X, Privacy Training.
                                                      Secretary, Department of Health and Human               www.regulations.gov, including any                        (2) Add a new subpart at HSAR
                                                      Services.                                               personal information provided. To                      3024.70, Privacy Training addressing
                                                      [FR Doc. 2017–00700 Filed 1–18–17; 8:45 am]             confirm receipt of your comment(s),                    the requirements for privacy training.
                                                      BILLING CODE 4165–15–P                                  please check http://                                   HSAR 3024.7001, Scope identifies the
                                                                                                              www.regulations.gov, approximately                     applicability of the subpart to contracts
                                                                                                              two to three days after submission to                  and subcontracts. HSAR 3024.7002,
                                                                                                              verify posting (except allow 30 days for               Definitions defines the term ‘‘handling.’’
                                                      DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND                                  posting of comments submitted by                       The definition of ‘‘handling’’ was
                                                      SECURITY                                                mail).                                                 developed based upon a review of
                                                      48 CFR Parts 3001, 3002, 3024, and                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
                                                                                                                                                                     definitions for the term developed by
                                                                                                              Candace Lightfoot, Procurement                         other Federal agencies. HSAR
                                                      3052
                                                                                                              Analyst, DHS, Office of the Chief                      3024.7003, Policy identifies when
                                                      [Docket No. DHS–2017–0008]                              Procurement Officer, Acquisition Policy                contractors and subcontracts are
                                                                                                              and Legislation at (202) 447–0882 or                   required to complete the DHS privacy
                                                      RIN 1601–AA79                                                                                                  training. This subsection also requires
                                                                                                              email HSAR@hq.dhs.gov. When using
                                                                                                              email, include HSAR Case 2015–003 in                   the submission of training completion
                                                      Homeland Security Acquisition
                                                                                                              the ‘‘Subject’’ line.                                  certificates for all contractor and
                                                      Regulation (HSAR); Privacy Training
                                                                                                                                                                     subcontractor employees as a record of
                                                      (HSAR Case 2015–003)                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                                     compliance. HSAR 3024.7004, Contract
                                                      AGENCY:  Office of the Chief Procurement                I. Background                                          Clause, identifies when Contracting
                                                      Officer, Department of Homeland                            DHS contracts currently require                     Officers must insert HSAR 3052.224–7X
                                                      Security (DHS).                                         contractor and subcontractor employees                 Privacy Training in solicitations and
                                                      ACTION: Proposed rule.                                  to complete privacy training before                    contracts. DHS welcomes respondents
                                                                                                              accessing a Government system of                       to offer their views on the following
                                                      SUMMARY:    DHS is proposing to amend                   records; handling Personally                           questions in particular:
                                                      the Homeland Security Acquisition                                                                                 A. What burden, if any, is associated
                                                                                                              Identifiable Information (PII) or
                                                      Regulation (HSAR) to add a new                                                                                 with the requirement to complete DHS-
                                                                                                              Sensitive PII (SPII); or designing,
                                                      subpart, update an existing clause, and                                                                        developed privacy training?
                                                                                                              developing, maintaining, or operating a                   B. What value, if any, is associated
                                                      add a new contract clause to require                    Government system of records. This
                                                      contractors to complete training that                                                                          with providing industry the flexibility
                                                                                                              training is completed upon award of the                to develop its own privacy training
                                                      addresses the protection of privacy, in                 procurement and at least annually
                                                      accordance with the Privacy Act of                                                                             given a unique set of Government
                                                                                                              thereafter.                                            requirements?
                                                      1974, and the handling and                                 DHS is proposing to (1) include
                                                      safeguarding of Personally Identifiable                                                                           (3) Amend sub paragraph (b) of the
                                                                                                              Privacy training requirements in the                   HSAR 3052.212–70, Contract Terms and
                                                      Information and Sensitive Personally                    HSAR and (2) make the training more                    Conditions Applicable to DHS
                                                      Identifiable Information.                               easily accessible by hosting it on a                   Acquisition of Commercial Items to add
                                                      DATES: Interested parties should submit                 public Web site. This approach ensures                 HSAR 3052.224–7X, Privacy Training.
                                                      written comments to one of the                          all applicable DHS contractors and                     This change is necessary because HSAR
                                                      addresses shown below on or before                      subcontractors are subject to the same                 3052.224–7X is applicable to the
                                                      March 20, 2017, to be considered in the                 requirements while removing the need                   acquisition of commercial items; and
                                                      formation of the final rule.                            for Government intervention to provide                    (4) Add a new subsection at HSAR
                                                      ADDRESSES: Submit comments                              access to the Privacy training.                        3052.224–7X, Privacy Training to
                                                      identified by HSAR Case 2015–003,                          This proposed rule standardizes the                 provide the text of the proposed clause.
                                                      Privacy Training, using any of the                      Privacy training requirement across all                The proposed clause requires contractor
                                                      following methods:                                      DHS contracts by amending the HSAR                     and subcontractor employees to
                                                         • Regulations.gov: http://                           to:                                                    complete privacy training before
                                                      www.regulations.gov.                                       (1) Add the terms ‘‘personally                      accessing a Government system of
                                                         Submit comments via the Federal                      identifiable information’’ and ‘‘sensitive             records; handling Personally
                                                      eRulemaking portal by entering ‘‘HSAR                   personally identifiable information’’ at               Identifiable Information (PII) or
                                                      Case 2015–003’’ under the heading                       HSAR 3002.1, Definitions. The                          Sensitive PII (SPII); or designing,
                                                      ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID’’ and selecting                   definition of ‘‘personally identifiable                developing, maintaining, or operating a
                                                      ‘‘Search.’’ Select the link ‘‘Submit a                  information’’ is taken from OMB                        Government system of records. The
                                                      Comment’’ that corresponds with                         Circular A–130 Managing Information                    training shall be completed within
                                                      ‘‘HSAR Case 2015–003.’’ Follow the                      as a Strategic Resource,1 published July               thirty (30) days of contract award and
                                                      instructions provided at the ‘‘Submit a                 27, 2016. The definition of ‘‘sensitive                on an annual basis thereafter. The
                                                      Comment’’ screen. Please include your                   personally identifiable information’’ is               contractor shall maintain copies of
                                                      name, company name (if any), and                        derived from the DHS lexicon, Privacy                  training certificates for all contractor
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                                      ‘‘HSAR Case 2015–003’’ on your                          Incident Handling Guidance, and the                    and subcontractor employees as a record
                                                      attached document.                                      Handbook for Safeguarding Sensitive                    of compliance and provide copies of the
                                                         • Fax: (202) 447–0520                                Personally Identifiable Information.                   training certificates to the contracting
                                                         • Mail: Department of Homeland                       These definitions are necessary because                officer. Subsequent training certificates
                                                      Security, Office of the Chief                           these terms appear in proposed HSAR                    to satisfy the annual privacy training
                                                      Procurement Officer, Acquisition Policy                   1 OMB Circular A–130 Managing Information as
                                                                                                                                                                     requirement shall be submitted via
                                                      and Legislation, ATTN: Ms. Candace                      a Strategic Resource is accessible at https://
                                                                                                                                                                     email notification not later than October
                                                      Lightfoot, 245 Murray Drive, Bldg. 410                  www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/     31st of each year. The contractor shall
                                                      (RDS), Washington, DC 20528.                            OMB/circulars/a130/a130revised.pdf.                    attach training certificates to the email


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Document Created: 2018-02-01 15:15:13
Document Modified: 2018-02-01 15:15:13
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionDenial of petition for rulemaking.
DatesWritten comments are not being solicited.
ContactNarayan Nair, MD, Director, Division of Injury Compensation Programs (DICP), Healthcare Systems Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8N146B, Rockville, Maryland 20857, or by telephone 301-443-6593.
FR Citation82 FR 6423 

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