AAIM continues to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the ability to provide a safe experience for attendees of Academic Internal Medicine Week 2023 (AIMW23). To ensure the safety of all attendees, COVID-19 vaccination (full primary series) will be required for registrants attending AIMW23 in Austin, TX. There will be no verification of individual vaccine status; however the Alliance reserves the right to request proof of vaccination status of any conference participant to confirm compliance of the vaccine requirement.
Attendees should be aware that, while AAIM will make every effort to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission on site, it is possible that attendees will come in contact with people in airports, hotels, and around the city who could potentially carry the virus. Please read below to stay informed on the latest updates.
Do I need to be vaccinated to attend AIMW23?
Yes. The safety of meeting attendees is the Alliance’s top priority, and we believe the most effective way to ensure the safety of all attendees is for them to be vaccinated against COVID-19. As such, AAIM will require all participants to be fully vaccinated with the primary series as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This required applies to all in-person (e.g. , registrants, speakers, guests, exhibit booth representatives and sponsors, etc.) meeting attendees.
How will AAIM verify my vaccination status?
At this time the attestation of the requirement during the registration process will be the only verification; there will not be any separate verification process. The Alliance reserves the right to request proof of vaccination status of any conference participant to confirm compliance of the vaccine requirement.
Will everyone at the meeting be fully vaccinated?
In addition to all meeting attendees, all AAIM staff working at the meeting will also follow the requirement for full vaccination; however, AAIM is not legally able to require local convention center and hotel staff to be vaccinated. AAIM is working with the Austin Convention Center to develop on-site protocols in accordance with the CDC guidelines for health and safety best practices.
Do I need to test before arriving at AIMW23?
At this time, the Alliance is not requiring attendees of the AIMW23 to take a COVID-19 test before arriving in Austin, TX.
Will masks be required during the meeting?
The current COVID-19 level community level in Travis County, TX, is low. The most recent CDC guidance indicates that if the COVID-19 Community Level is low, then wearing a mask is based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk.
At this time, the Alliance recommends but does not require participants to wear a mask. A complimentary KN95 mask will be provided to each participant at registration. AAIM leaders will continue to monitor the environment and will notify participants of any changes to masking requirements.
Will I have to do anything different during registration in regards to health and safety?
As a condition of registration, all registrants are required to acknowledge they have read and will comply with the Academic Internal Medicine Week 2023 Health and Safety Waiver and Guidelines.
What sanitation efforts will be enforced?
Even though the science now shows that COVID-19 transmission is unlikely to occur from touching surfaces touched by multiple persons (i.e., podiums, etc.), staff will clean these regularly to promote healthy sanitation overall. Hand sanitizer will also be available in multiple locations throughout the meeting space.
What if I don’t feel well while I’m at the meeting?
If you don’t feel well during the meeting, please stay in your hotel room and do not enter the meeting space. If you take a COVID-19 exam and return a positive result, please email meetings@im.org so that the proper notifications can be made. Your name will be kept confidential. More information on local testing options will be provided closer to the meeting.