WESTERCON 75 COVID PROTOCOLS

All Westercon 75 attendees - including staff and program participants - must show proof of being vaccinated.

You must have received one of these vaccinations AND be up to date on your boosters, received by June 1, 2023.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: As of May 2022, the FDA advised that because of potential blood clots with the J&J shot, the inoculation is being restricted to adults 18 and older who specifically request the J&J shot or who cannot have the other available vaccines for medical reasons. A monovalent J&J/Janssen booster is available in limited situations. So, if you only have had the initial J&J shot you will be considered vaccinated.

Pfizer-BioNTech

Moderna

Johnson & Johnson

Novavax

Per the CDC, you are considered fully vaccinated from COVID-19 if you have received the primary shots. However, you are not protected against the variants. It is recommended for Westercon 75 that you have at least received 2 of the boosters. The updated (bivalent) boosters are called "bivalent" because they protect against both the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the Omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5.

ADDITIONAL HEALTH KNOWLEDGE: We also need to be aware that there is a new virus called Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV affects the lungs and respiratory airways and especially effects those that are 65 years old and older with chronic heart or lung disease, and adults with weakened immune systems. All though symptoms can be mild and appear as a cold those who have health issues can get very ill. There's is no quick test for RSV.

We understand we cannot protect staff and attendees for everything we still need to be aware.