COVID-19 vaccination required for HIMSS21

Anyone planning to attend this year’s Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) conference will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

According to the HIMSS21 health and safety hub, this year’s show from Aug. 9 to 13 in Las Vegas will require proof of vaccination from all attendees, exhibitors, and staff. Full vaccination is defined as two weeks after the second administration in a two-dose series like Pfizer and Moderna vaccines or two weeks after the administration of a single-dose vaccine like Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine.

HIMSS is evaluating solutions for validating proof of full vaccination for entry into the conference with a focus on accessible, privacy-preserving technology. Further guidance will be available in the coming weeks, the site says.

Attendees, exhibitors, and staff are advised to comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention travel guidelines when traveling to the conference.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of HIMSS20 last year due to the spread of the disease. It was the first time the conference had been canceled in 58 years and the organization had just announced that then-President Donald J. Trump was scheduled to attend the first day.