To promote the health and safety of all AACR Annual Meeting participants in New Orleans, the AACR is requiring all meeting participants entering all AACR Annual Meeting events to be fully vaccinated. The AACR recommends that all onsite meeting participants wear a KN95 mask at all times while in the convention center, while attending AACR events at hotels, and while riding AACR-sponsored meeting shuttle buses.

“We are thrilled to be able to return to a live meeting, and to do it safely,” said Pam Ballinger, AACR Senior Director of Meetings and Exhibits. “We’ve taken a comprehensive approach to ensuring safety, starting with vaccination requirements and including testing, masking, cleaning, and maintaining some social distancing in the convention center.”

In accordance with guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the policies below have been implemented for the AACR Annual Meeting. Check the meeting site regularly for future updates.

Vaccinations: All attendees, exhibitors, convention center personnel, and AACR employees entering all AACR Annual Meeting events must be fully vaccinated. AACR defines “fully vaccinated” as individuals who have received one of the following:

• A second shot in a two-dose series of any vaccine approved by the CDC or the World Health Organization, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, by March 25;
• One shot of a single-dose vaccine approved by the CDC or the WHO, such as the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, by March 25.

A complete list of currently accepted COVID-19 vaccines can be found on the CDC website.

All attendees, exhibitors, convention center personnel, and AACR employees must submit proof of vaccination prior to entry into the convention center. The AACR has also requested that staff at hotels hosting Annual Meeting events be fully vaccinated.

The AACR strongly encourages all Annual Meeting attendees to receive a booster vaccine, though it is not required.

All individuals who enter the convention center will enter through controlled access points where vaccination status will be verified. No attendee will be able pick up their badge without submitting proof of vaccination status.

Masks: The AACR will provide all onsite attendees with one KN95 mask in their registration materials.

The AACR recommends all speakers, attendees, convention center personnel, vendors, and AACR employees wear a KN95 mask at all times while in the convention center, while attending AACR events at hotels, and while riding AACR-sponsored meeting shuttle buses. If worn, masks should completely cover the mouth and nose.

Testing: Rapid testing will be available inside the convention center for all attendees on an as-needed basis. Rapid antigen and/or PCR testing will also be available for all attendees who require a negative test before air travel. While walk-ins will be accepted, appointments are strongly recommended and can be booked onsite.

Social Distancing: The exhibit floor and poster hall will be laid out with extra-wide aisles to allow for social distancing. Seating in session rooms has been reduced from 10 seats per row to four seats per row, with extra aisle space between rows.

The stages in session rooms will be modified to allow social distancing for speakers, and microphones will be cleaned between each session. Microphones will not be set up in the session rooms for Q&A. Instead, attendees will be able to submit questions to speakers via the meeting app.

Cleaning: There will be a 30-minute break between each session to allow for a thorough cleaning of all meeting rooms. High-touch areas within the convention center, including all bathrooms, will be cleaned hourly and 100 hand-sanitizing stations will be placed throughout the convention center.

The AACR will continue monitoring guidelines from the CDC and other agencies, and policies may change based on updated guidelines. Check the meeting site regularly for future updates.