Health and Safety
Current as of 2 December 2021
AGU is committed to the health and well-being of our meeting attendees, exhibitors, staff and meeting partners. As part of our effort to hold a safe and productive meeting, the Board of Directors of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) has determined that proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for all registrants attending AGU Fall Meeting in New Orleans. Every in-person attendee, all AGU staff, exhibitors and guests will be required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the World Health Organization (WHO) before being allowed to enter the convention center or any off-site AGU event.
Showing Proof of Vaccination
AGU has partnered with SafeAccess to facilitate proof of vaccination at AGU21. After you have registered for the meeting, expect a vaccine verification email from [email protected]. Please allow up to 2 business days for the email.
We strongly encourage all participants to complete the verification process prior to arriving to New Orleans.
If you wait until you arrive in New Orleans to provide your proof of vaccination, you may experience delays in attending events and sessions.
SafeAccess Health Check Verification Information
Please be aware of the following:
• The subject line of the vaccine verification email is “SafeAccess Invitation” and the sender is [email protected]. Please add [email protected] to your contacts and whitelist the domain live.safeaccess.app so the email arrives to your inbox (and not your junk folder).
• A unique-to-you link is contained in the email so you can go to the site, upload proof of your COVID-19 vaccination and agree to our safety protocols. Do not share the email or link with anyone else.
• SafeAccess's trusted reviewers will review your vaccine submissions in accordance with all HIPAA guidelines. AGU staff is not reviewing any documentation.
• Allow for two business days for your information to be reviewed. You will receive an email confirmation when you've been granted access or contacted directly by a member of the SafeAccess team if there is a question. You can login to the SafeAccess website at any time to check your status.
• All documentation will be automatically deleted upon the completion of your entry.
• On-site badge pick up after COVID-19 verification is approved.
After you completed the verification, you should proceed directly to the health check verification desk onsite at #AGU21 in New Orleans. You will show your SafeAccess health check pass and proceed to the Scan and Go registration kiosks to print your badge. Badges will be required to attend all #AGU21 events.
If you have not received this email message, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
If you do not complete the verification in advance, you must visit our vaccination verification desk to provide proof of full vaccination before getting your badge. Please allow extra time to complete this process. You WILL NOT get your badge without providing proof of full vaccination.
SafeAccess Security Policy – Attendee data and information will not be shared with any 3rd party advertisers or solicitors.
Badge Retrieval after SafeAccess Approval
All attendees who submit their information to SafeAccess prior to the start of AGU21 may obtain their badges at one of three registration locations:
- Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport Baggage Claim Area - available to those who have pre-registered for the conference and been approved by SafeAccess
- Hilton Riverside, First Floor – available to those who have pre-registered for the conference and been approved by SafeAccess.
- Ernest M. Morial Convention Center, Julia Street Entrance – available to those who are registering onsite or pre-registered and approved by SafeAccess.
When you arrive at the convention center:
- Enter the convention center at the Julia Street/Lobby A doors.
- Open your SafeAccess Confirmation, If the background is green, you’re good to go. If your SafeAccess is red, go to the SafeAccess Help Desk, just inside the Julia Street Entrance.
- Show your green SafeAccess Confirmation to security and again at registration, along with a photo ID to obtain your badge.
Once you have your AGU21 badge, you will not need to show proof of vaccination in the convention center or Hilton Riverside Hotel again unless you lose your badge.
With SafeAccess, you are always in control of your information. AGU only receives confirmation that an attendee satisfied the requirements for access with the equivalent of a red or green result — we never have access to an individual’s private health data. For further information on how SafeAccess protects user data, review their member terms.
International attendees should always check current travel restrictions to the U.S. on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website before planning your travel to make sure you will be able to enter the U.S.
Accepted Vaccines
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen
- Moderna
- AstraZeneca-Oxford
- Sinopharm
- Serum Institute of India: Covishield
- Sinovac: CoronaVac
Frequently Asked Questions
Who needs to be vaccinated?
Everyone who attends #AGU21 in person will need to be fully vaccinated.
Unvaccinated Individuals
You can still participate in AGU21 by registering as a virtual attendee.
If you are already registered and would like to switch your method of attendance to virtual, email a written request to [email protected] by 7 December. No processing fee will be assessed for changing your registration type.
Individuals with Medical or Religious Exemptions for Vaccination
You can still participate in AGU21 by registering as a virtual attendee.
If you are already registered and would like to switch your method of attendance to virtual, email a written request to [email protected] by 7 December. No processing fee will be assessed for changing your registration type.
Recovered From COVID, Have Antibodies
The CDC strongly advises that all who have had COVID should also be vaccinated. Learn more about the risks of reinfection. In light of this evidence, the American Geophysical Union is requiring all attendees to be fully vaccinated by 29 November in order to attend the in-person meeting in New Orleans.
You can still participate in AGU21 by registering for the virtual option.
If you are already registered and would like to switch your method of attendance to virtual, email a written request to [email protected] by 7 December. No processing fee will be assessed for changing your registration type.
Definition of Fully Vaccinated
By 13 December you must be 2 weeks post your final dose:
- Second dose in a 2-dose series, such as with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or
- The one shot of a single-dose vaccine such as with Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine
In most cases this means you will need your final vaccination dose by 29 November.
Switching from In-Person to Virtual
If you will not be fully vaccinated by 29 November, you can switch your registration to the virtual meeting by emailing [email protected] by 7 December.
Convention Center Staff and Meeting Partners
The AGU believes that requiring vaccinations is the best way to keep meeting attendees safe, and the vast majority of people in the convention center will be vaccinated. Only vaccinated convention center staff will work during AGU21. Additionally, personnel contracted in New Orleans participating in the meeting are also required to be vaccinated and will have their information checked daily.
What about guests or children?
Guests and Family Members
Guests and family members may attend AGU21 only if they are fully vaccinated. They will need to register as a guest or caregiver, pay the appropriate fee for the meeting and then complete the proof of vaccination process onsite to pick up their badge. This year we are not able to provide any complimentary passes for spouses or guests of speakers.
All attendees and guests attending the Honors Tribute and Banquet must follow this process:
All guests attending the Honors Ceremony and Banquet are required to be fully vaccinated. Guests will need to provide a government issued vaccination card at check-in. A wrist band will be provided once vaccination status has been granted.
Honors Ceremony guests should check in at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Julia Street Entrance at the SafeAccess Registration Desk prior to entering the ceremony.
If you are attending the Honors Banquet only, please check-in at the Hilton Riverside, First Floor SafeAccess Registration Desk prior to entering the banquet.
Honorees and Registered Attendees must wear their name badge to both the Honors Ceremony and Honors Banquet, if attending. This will allow for a smoother process with accessing the applicable Honors Event.
Children
Fully vaccinated children, age 5 and over, can accompany registered attendees as long as the child is registered in the youth category and completes the proof of vaccination process to pick up their badge.
Because they are not currently eligible for COVID vaccines, children under 5 will not be allowed to attend the meeting or any AGU21 affiliated events this year. No onsite childcare will be available. All children will be required to wear a mask while attending the meeting or affiliated events.
Registering Onsite
To register onsite, you will need your proof of vaccination to access the convention center. When arriving at the Julia Street Entrance of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, please look for “Need SafeAccess Health Approval? Enter Here” signage. We highlight recommend that you register and verify your vaccination status in advance to speed up your badge pick-up in the convention center.
Online registration is open throughout the meeting.
Testing onsite
Onsite Rapid PCR Testing
AGU is offering onsite rapid PCR testing for interested Fall Meeting Attendees. Any person registering for a test select “I decline to input insurance information” in the payment field. Once registration is complete report to the testing site at the convention center. Email [email protected] for registration assistance.
13 December – 17 December from 9:00AM – 17:00PM
Location: New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, E-1
For more information and to sign up visit www.nolacovidtesting.com
Costs: The test are $60 for US residents and $125 for international attendees
(Fees are to cover the additional cost of paperwork related to travel).
There are additional rapid testing locations in New Orleans. The following are closest to the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center:
Stone Laboratories
615 Baronne Street, Suite 100
New Orleans, LA 70113
(504) 827-1050
Ochsner Health Center
5300 Tchoupitoulas
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 703-3070
In & Out Urgent Care
6225 S Claiborne Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70125
(504) 864-8080
Ochsner Urgent Care Uptown
4605 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 891-7676
CVS Pharmacy
4901 Prytania Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 891-6307
Walgreens
1801 Saint Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 561-8458
Walgreens
3227 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 899-2610
Other onsite safety measures
Masks Required
The American Geophysical Union will require masks at AGU21 regardless of local ordinances. All attendees, exhibitors, guests, staff and vendors will be required to wear masks in the convention center and at all AGU events held at local hotels or other off-site locations
Also, you will be required to wear a mask on the field trip shuttle buses.
Masks should:
- Completely cover your mouth and nose.
- Fit snugly without gaps.
Disposable masks will be available onsite should you need one.
Other Safety Measures
- All meeting rooms will be set up to allow for more physical distancing.
- The convention center and AV staff will be cleaning all meeting rooms between sessions, including microphones.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the convention center.
- As much as possible, food and beverage will be served individually packaged and outdoor locations will be utilized for hosting events featuring food and beverage.
Additional Resources:
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport
New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Convention Center Staff and Meeting Partners
The AGU believes that requiring vaccinations is the best way to keep meeting attendees safe, and the vast majority of people in the convention center will be vaccinated. Only vaccinated convention center staff will work during AGU21. Additionally, personnel contracted in New Orleans participating in the meeting are also required to be vaccinated and will have their information checked daily.