2023 IADR/LAR General Session & Exhibition with WCPD

COVID-19 Vaccination According to the WHO, getting vaccinated is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself against COVID-19, help end the pandemic and stop new variants emerging.

 
IADR General Session and WCPD attendees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the date of their first day of attending the General Session or associated venues. Full vaccination status is defined as having finished your primary vaccine schedule, whether that’s one dose or two. 

All COVID-19 vaccines must met the WHO criteria for safety and efficacy
 

IADR reminds you it can take up to six weeks to complete the full schedule for COVID-19 vaccines that require two doses. Please plan accordingly.
Please note that proof of primary vaccination will be required for all meeting attendees prior to picking up their registration badge in Bogotá.

Religious or Medical Exemptions
Religious exemptions from the vaccination requirement to attend the General Session will be granted only to delegates with sincerely held religious beliefs.  Religious exemption requests must be submitted in writing for consideration.  If an exemption is granted, a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen laboratory test taken within 48 hours of picking up their registration badge will be required. (At-home self-tests will not be accepted.)  In addition, wearing a high-quality N-95, KN-95, or similar mask will be required at all General Session events. 

Medical exemptions from the vaccination requirement to attend the General Session will be granted only to delegates whose physician documents a diagnosis of one of the conditions the US CDC considers to be a contraindication for COVID-19 vaccination.  Bear in mind, the US CDC recommends that individuals with most pre-existing conditions still receive the vaccine to protect their health and safety. Medical exemption requests must be submitted in writing, with the attendees’ physician signature, for consideration.  If an exemption is granted, a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen laboratory test taken within 48 hours of picking up their registration badge will be required. (At-home self-tests will not be accepted.)  In addition, wearing a high-quality N-95, KN-95, or similar mask will be required at all General Session events.   

For a religious or medical exemption contact registration@iadr.org for the required documentation.
Deadline for vaccine exemption review is June 7, 2023. 
 

The World Health Organization recommends masks as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission.  Currently (01/18/2023), the Columbia government is stating masking is not required in municipalities with a record of vaccination coverage greater than 70% and at least 40% booster doses, masks will also not be required in closed spaces, with the exception of health services, nursing homes and all modes of transport.  Bogotá, exceeds the 70% threshold.  However, people may choose to wear a mask at any time to protect yourself and others.

 As General Session attendees will be arriving from regions all over the world, including regions with high community transmission, the IADR strongly recommends the use of high-quality masks at all events.
 

Regardless of vaccination status, attendees should conduct a self-check for the following symptoms prior to attending the General Session. Within the past 48 hours has the individual experienced:

• fever or chills
• cough
• shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• fatigue
• muscle or body aches
• headache
• new loss of taste or smell
• sore throat
• congestion or runny nose
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea  

Safe Expo provides secure, digital proof of your vaccination status via Safe Pass. Please complete the instructions found on the Safe Expo web page at least one week before you arrive to Bogotá, Colombia by June 15, 2023. Make sure you see the IADR Logo when you visit the page.

Safe Expo will not share your data and vaccination status with IADR. Safe Expo will delete your data 14 days after the 2023 IADR/LAR General Session with WCPD ends. Contact Safe Expo if you have any questions about enrolling in Safe Pass. 

Deadline for proof of vaccination upload is June 16, 2023. 

Attendees participating in-person are strongly encouraged to test themselves immediately before traveling to Bogotá. Testing at home before travel, either a rapid antigen test or more ideally a PCR, will add a further layer of protection for all attendees. Obviously, attendees who test positive should stay home, follow other WHO and Colombian guidelines, and will still be able to view sessions on demand post-meeting. In addition, pre-travel testing will detect early asymptomatic infections and avoid the potential for transmission to fellow attendees and the more costly and inconvenient possibility of a quarantine in Bogotá. 

International attendees should always check current travel restrictions to Bogotá, Colombia before planning travel, to make sure you will be able to enter the country.

Colombia is safer today than at any point in the last 50 years. While Bogotá is a very modern city, it is located in a developing country, and we recommend exercising some basic precautions. Historic and popular areas, all of which are generally in the center and north of the center, are the safest regions. The Hotels and Tour desk operators will help to guide attendees toward the right spots at the right time of day, for example: trendy areas that are ripe with nightlife are better after dark, while the historic center is best to frequent during daylight hours.

The local expression in Bogotá is: “No des papaya,” or “Don’t give a papaya.” It essentially means, don’t make yourself an obvious target: Use common sense while in Bogotá. That means:

• Look where you’re going – particularly when crossing the street.
• Don’t wear flashy items like expensive watches or gold-plated hardware wallets.
• Don’t walk around with your phone out or with your laptop when not necessary.
• Leave valuables (passport, excess cash/cards) in your hotel locked in a safe or other lockable device.
• Avoid hailing street taxis. Use Uber App or DiDi, where a 20-min ride costs around $5 USD. 
• It is recommended that you do not walk alone at night while in Bogotá.