To get an idea what you could expect, you could look at what they were considering doing last year. [They ultimately changed this plan.] However, they had announced that masks were required, but if you showed vaccination proof at a health kiosk, you could get a wristband that made masks optional. So -- maybe -- you're showing your vaccination print-out at a health kiosk. Or something like that. Or at badge check in / will call. *IF* they require vaccines, which is what they are saying now (but could change, I suppose), they will undoubtedly have a solution announced for people like you. As long as you have your proof, I wouldn't be too worried.
But, again, there is no actual answer to this question available right now. The preceding paragraph is just speculation.
I don't need to know their exact procedure and I realize their policy may change. I would just like some confirmation, before making non-refundable travel arrangements, that our government issued proof of vaccination will be accepted, even though it is not a US Vaccination Card. I would also like confirmation that 3 shots counts as fully vaccinated even if the US rolls out second booster shots before we can get one.
From the CDC page CDC FAQ
You are considered fully vaccinated if you Received any single-dose COVID-19 vaccine series that is authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or listed for emergency use by World Health Organization (WHO). *Received any combinationexternal icon of two doses of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 two-dose series. *CDC does not recommend mixing different COVID-19 vaccines for the primary series, but CDC is aware that this is increasingly common in many countries outside of the United States. Therefore, for the interpretation of vaccination records, these people are considered fully vaccinated.Accepted COVID-19 VaccinesAccepted COVID-19 VaccinesVaccines Approved or Authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationVaccines Listed for Emergency Use (EUL) by the World Health OrganizationCertain Clinical Trial Vaccines which Have Confirmed Efficacy Single dose Janssen/J&J Janssen/J&J 2-dose series Pfizer-BioNTech Moderna Pfizer-BioNTech Moderna AstraZeneca Covaxin Covishield BIBP/Sinopharm Sinovac Novavax/Covovax Medicago If you received a COVID-19 vaccine that is not authorized or approved by FDA or listed for emergency use by WHO, you may start over with an FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. Please note that no data are available on the safety or effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination after receiving a non-FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. Wait at least 28 days after you received the last dose of the non-FDA-authorized or approved vaccine before receiving an FDA-authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. Visit the clinical considerations webpage for more information.As with vaccines for other diseases, people who are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines are optimally protected. Learn more about staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines.
2-dose series
Mike
Thanks, Mike!
I don't think Gen Con would ever seriously consider rules like this that block out the whole world besides the U.S.
But yeah it stinks trying to make travel plans in a pandemic. Hopefully no more curveballs this year.
I agree. I don't think they would ever do it on purpose. But I would hate to be turned away because an employee, or possibly a volunteer, wasn't informed about other documents. I'm confident they've thought it through.
I've read this thread, and I haven't seen a definitive answer on how they will handle vaccination verification. At Will Call? They'd have to increase the size of the Will Call staff 20-fold if all attendees, even those that get their badges mailed, have to go to WC to show vax proof. And once we've shown our vax cards, do we get a wristband or something else so we can move freely in & out of the exhibit hall over all 4 days?
We will not be doing this at Will Call fyi.
Thanks for the prompt response Mike. We wait with bated breath.
I had a couple flights in the last week - one right after the air travel mask mandate was struck down in court and one several days later.
On the first flight the only people wearing masks (that I saw) were the airline employees. On the later flight even the airline employees were maskless (I suspect the airline had relaxed its employee mask mandate between my two flights), but I did spot one or two passengers wearing masks. Both flights were completely full.
My takeaway from this experience was: When people are given a choice right now, very few choose to wear masks - even if they are packed in with strangers.
So - fair warning to anyone who believes a maskless Gen Con would present a significant risk to their life - better plan on driving to and from Indianapolis.
This is of course all anecdotal, and I have no problem with Gen Con taking a wait-and-see approach - because circumstances might turn for the worse. Just contributing to the conversation.
I wasn't at Gary Con, but it sounds more like they chose not to enforce their rules when it became inconvenient....
Adepticon required proof of vaccination, but no mask. As far as I've heard there wasn't massive spike in cases....
Planet Comicon just finished in Kansas City. There was no mask mandate cause the city didn't have one. So keep an eye on Kansas City for a spike in cases or not.
There was also a large under 18 dance competition there this past weekend, two concerts, and a Prom. Restaurants were packed more than usual. The Yardhouse had an hour and a half to two hours for a table for two people.
And as I said the City had no mask mandate.
I could see the checkers at the doors requiring masks (along with badges) when you enter a hall, but I don't think you'll get a lot of support if you ask the game masters or those running the events to also have to be responsible for ensuring all the participants wear their mask during the event. It'll be a repeat of Home Depot / Sam's Club in 2020 when most store employees decided that it just wasn't worth their time.
If some or most of the attendees decide to shed their masks during the middle of an event once they've got past the check points, there's really not much GC can realistically do about it.
1 or 2 people can get kicked out.
5,000? No.