Double Vaccs Requirement for AAO meeting

Double Vaccs Requirement for AAO meeting

AAO: Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination Required for All Registrants Attending Annual Meeting in New Orleans

The American Academy of Ophthalmology’s board of trustees has decided that proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for all registrants attending the Academy’s annual meeting in New Orleans.

Every AAO 2021 attendee, all Academy staff, exhibitors, and guests will be required to show proof of vaccination before being allowed to enter the convention center, according to a “Health & Safety” message posted on AAO’s website.

Prior to arriving on site, attendees will be asked to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the FDA or the World Health Organization (WHO).

The following vaccines will be accepted:

Pfizer-BioNTech
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen
Moderna
AstraZeneca-Oxford
Sinopharm

The Academy will be working with a third-party vendor to manage proof of vaccination process. Instructions will be provided to all pre-registrants on how to verify your vaccination status by Wednesday, September 15.

If guests arrive at the convention center without having already completed the proof of vaccination process, it may result in unnecessary delays as we process and verify the information you provide, according to AAO.

For those who are unvaccinated, AAO is offering a virtual option for the annual meeting.

“If you are already registered and would like to switch your method of attendance to virtual, email a written request to registration@aao.org by Oct. 29. No processing fee will be assessed for moving your registration,” according to the Academy.

Other important information from AAO:

Definition of Fully Vaccinated

By November 10, you must be 2 weeks post your final dose:

Second dose in a 2-dose series, such as with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or the one shot of a single-dose vaccine such as with Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

Switching from In-Person to Virtual

If you will not be fully vaccinated by Nov. 10, you can switch your registration to the virtual meeting by emailing registration@aao.org. Deadline is Oct. 29 to make the switch without penalty.