ASH Annual Meeting Health and Safety Protocols
The following information pertains to the 2022 ASH Annual Meeting. Information on the 2023 program will be made available in early July.
We encourage you to monitor this page to stay abreast of the latest updates on the health and safety protocols for the 64th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition. ASH is continually monitoring the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and additional information regarding the on-site health and safety protocols will be posted to this webpage as it becomes available.
Key Protocols for the 2022 ASH Annual Meeting:
- Vaccination will be required for all in-person meeting attendees. Verify now.
- ASH is offering complimentary* medical evacuation and quarantine support coverage. Enroll now.
- Proof of a negative COVID-19 test is not required for in-person attendees, but ASH encourages attendees to test prior to travel and take advantage of complimentary testing while on site. Learn more.
- Protective masks must be worn by all in-person meeting attendees. Learn more.
Vaccination Requirement and Verification
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for In-person Attendees:
While ASH will make every effort to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission on site, ALL attendees are required to be fully vaccinated for their own safety, as well as the safety of others. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required prior to traveling to New Orleans for the 64th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition. Additional information on how to upload your vaccination verification will be posted as it becomes available.
For those unable to travel or meet the vaccination requirement, ASH offers several virtual registration options.
For the purposes of right of entry to the ASH annual meeting, a person is considered fully vaccinated:
- Two weeks after receiving the second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines; or
- Two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine, such as the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine.
Please note that booster shots are strongly encouraged for those who are eligible but will not be required.
ASH will accept a full course of immunization with any vaccine that has been authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The product may be either fully authorized or authorized under an emergency use authorization or equivalent at the time of travel (see list of eligible vaccines). Vaccination with an agent that is not included on the WHO or FDA website as authorized will not be accepted.
ASH is partnering with two companies – Safe Expo and CLEAR – for vaccination verification services to make your entry to the meeting faster, safer, and more secure. Only one is required. Uploading your proof of vaccination should be done in advance. ASH suggests that attendees do this as soon as possible to avoid any processing delays.
Option 1: Safe Expo
This service is available to all attendees regardless of where you live.
Safe Expo offers a web-based portal for you to upload your proof of vaccination. Note: Safe Expo does not retain your proof of vaccination once it has been reviewed and approved. Safe Expo has a record of all attendees who generated a health pass with them for the 2021 ASH Annual Meeting (email addresses only), and you will have the option to generate your 2022 Safe Expo health pass using that same information if you use the same email address.
Step 1: If you don’t already have an image of your vaccination document, make sure to take a clear photo and save it to the device you are using to complete this process.
Step 2: Navigate to the ASH vaccination verification upload portal and select Start.
Step 3: Enter your email address.
Step 4: Enter your name.
Step 5: Select “Upload Now” to get to the upload page and select “Upload Now” again.
Step 6: Select “Choose File” and navigate to the JPEG or PNG image of your vaccination documentation stored on your computer or device.
Step 7: Select the image file and click “Upload.” Note: JPEG and PNG are the only acceptable file formats for upload.
Step 8: Verify that your image has uploaded correctly and displays in the image preview box and select “Next.”
You will then be taken to a page indicating that your proof of vaccination has been uploaded. Your document will be reviewed within two business days. Once approved, you will receive an email notice with your green health pass PDF. You will need an electronic or paper copy of your green health pass PDF, along with a picture ID, when you arrive in New Orleans to pick up your registration badge.
If your green health pass PDF does not arrive via email confirmation in one to two business days, you may return to the portal and re-enter your email address to check on the status of your verification.
Need help? Contact [email protected] for assistance. Note: The approval email might get caught in your SPAM filter, so please check your SPAM folder if you have not received your confirmation. Your email will come from [email protected].
Option 2: CLEAR
This service is available to attendees based in the U.S. only.
Step 1: Enroll in/Sign in to CLEAR:
- Download the CLEAR app (Apple Store or Google Play) and tap “Get Started” on the Health Pass tile.
- Select “Have a Code?” and enter ASHMEETING22.
- Tap “Enroll or verify you are already in CLEAR” to create an account or access your existing CLEAR member account.
- New to CLEAR? When prompted, enter your email address, phone number, and have your government-issued photo ID ready to complete enrollment.
- Already a CLEAR member? Use the email address associated with your membership and snap a quick selfie to verify your identity.
- Tap “Add COVID-19 Vaccination” and follow prompts to confirm your proof of vaccination securely.
Need help? Call 855-CLEAR-ME or contact [email protected] for assistance
Step 2: Before arriving at registration, open your completed green health pass:
- Open the CLEAR app and tap on the “Your Pass” tile.
- Confirm your identity with a quick selfie.
- Tap “Open Health Pass” to get your result. Green means you’re good to go!
Disclaimer: CLEAR will not share your specific answers to any questions with ASH. CLEAR may provide reporting to ASH on your usage of Health Pass related to the ASH annual meeting.
Medical Evacuation and Quarantine Support
ASH has arranged with a leading provider of medical evacuation services to offer registered, in-person attendees free* enrollment in medical evacuation coverage. This membership provides medical evacuation for enrolled attendees who experience emergent medical issues of any kind (including obstetric issues, accidents, illness, etc.) during the annual meeting in New Orleans that require transportation to a hospital in another location for appropriate care. It also provides monetary support for enrolled attendees who must quarantine if they test positive for COVID-19 while on site in New Orleans ($500 per day to cover hotel and meal costs incurred during their quarantine period) at no additional cost*. Attendees must enroll before December 4, 2022.
* Industry representatives, i.e. pharma employees and exhibit booth staff, are also eligible to enroll in this exclusive membership at the discounted ASH rate of $400.
Enroll in complimentary coverage provided by ASH, if eligible*.
Purchase coverage (for industry representatives*).
NOTE: Attendees must self-enroll by December 4, 2022, to receive this coverage. Attendees are not automatically enrolled when registering for the ASH annual meeting. Industry representatives must pay a discounted fee of $400 to enroll.
COVID-19 Testing
ASH is not requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test to attend the ASH annual meeting in New Orleans but encourages attendees to test to confirm negative status prior to travelling to the meeting. ASH encourages attendees to consider their own personal health circumstances and make decisions based on their unique situation. Anyone experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms should stay home and get well. All attendees have access to the meeting’s virtual platform to participate in the meeting.
Complimentary COVID-19 rapid testing and self-test kits will be available for those who experience symptoms while on site, and for travelers who must show proof of a recent COVID-19 test to board their return flight. More information about testing locations will be shared prior to the meeting.
On-site attendees must agree that if they become symptomatic, they will immediately test for COVID-19 and cease participation in the meeting and all related events. Individuals who test positive will not be permitted to continue attending the meeting in person until a negative test is produced, although they will still have access to the meeting’s virtual platform, and must follow CDC guidance on quarantine and isolation. (See question below on “What happens if I test positive on site?” for more details.)
The ASH annual meeting COVID-19 dashboard provides information on the number of positive results reported to [email protected], or confirmed at one of ASH’s on-site testing centers, and will be updated regularly. Individuals who have come in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should follow the CDC’s guidance on what to do if you are exposed to COVID-19.
No, ASH is not requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test to attend the ASH annual meeting in New Orleans but encourages attendees to test prior to travelling to the meeting. Anyone experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms should stay home and get well. All attendees have access to the meeting’s virtual platform to participate in the meeting.
Complimentary on-site rapid COVID-19 testing, as well as self-test kits, will be available at two testing locations.
Testing Center Locations
| ENMCC | Room 228-230, Level 2 |
| Hilton Riverside New Orleans | Eglinton Winton Room |
Testing Center Hours
| Thursday, December 8 | 2:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
| Friday, December 9 | 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, December 10 | 6:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. |
| Sunday, December 11 | 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Monday, December 12 | 6:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday, December 13 | 6:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. |
Attendees who test positive for COVID-19 must follow CDC guidance on quarantine and isolation. They will not be allowed to attend sessions in person until a negative test can be produced, although they will still have access to the meeting’s virtual platform.
ASH staff should be notified via email [email protected] and will assist individuals who test positive via a Quarantine Support Concierge. This assistance includes twice-daily wellness checks by phone, providing clarification on policies for isolating while on site, facilitating safe and comfortable quarantine arrangements, providing information on local health care options as needed, and assisting in making changes to travel arrangements. In addition, all attendees are encouraged to enroll in medical evacuation and quarantine support coverage, which provides additional benefits.
Information on individuals who test positive, including the name of the individual testing positive, will be provided to staff overseeing the COVID-19 testing and response efforts. This will enable staff to follow up with these individuals to provide information on policies for isolating while on site, facilitate safe and comfortable quarantine arrangements, provide information on local health care options as needed, and assist in making changes to travel arrangements. ASH’s third-party testing provider, Safe Expo, will report positive test results to the relevant public health agencies as required by law. While aggregate information about the number of positive cases will be made available to other attendees, the identity of individuals who test positive will be kept confidential.
ASH will make aggregate data available to attendees via the ASH annual meeting COVID-19 dashboard that will provide information on the number of positive results reported to [email protected], or confirmed at one of ASH’s on site testing centers, and will be updated regularly.
Protective Masks
The wearing of protective masks is required of all attendees, ASH staff, and convention center workers, regardless of whether it is required by law at the time of the meeting. Masks must be worn properly (always covering both mouth and nose) except as noted below. The indoor mask requirement applies to the convention center, hotels, shuttle buses, or anywhere an in-person ASH event is being held. Masks are not required outdoors. Masks may be removed briefly in the following situations:
- When actively eating or drinking.
- When speaking at the lectern. Speakers should put their masks back on when not actively presenting or answering a question (i.e., sitting at the head table or dais).
- When being photographed or interviewed on camera by registered media or ASH staff.
In-person attendees will be provided with several kits containing a disposable KN95 mask, and hand sanitizer in the registration bag to use if they wish, and additional supplies will be available in bins placed throughout the meeting venue.
What kind of masks are acceptable?
While KN95 and surgical masks will be provided on site, attendees are welcome to bring their own mask of choice. Surgical, N95, and KN95 masks are strongly preferred. Well-fitting cloth masks are also acceptable. Gaiters, bandanas, and masks with exhalation valves will not be accepted.
Attendees who are not properly masked will be refused admittance to ASH sessions and events and may have their badges revoked. Please see the Centers for Disease Control guidance on masking.
Additional On-Site Health and Safety Information
Physical Distancing
Meeting rooms will be set up to accommodate those attendees who prefer more personal space as well as those who prefer to sit closer together, even if physical distancing is not legally mandated at the time of the meeting.
Sanitization
Even though the science now shows that COVID-19 transmission is unlikely to occur from touching surfaces touched by multiple persons (i.e., lecterns and internet stations), staff will clean these regularly to promote healthy sanitation overall.
International Attendees
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. In addition, please monitor local regulations at home to ensure that you will be able to return from the U.S.