COVID-19 Safety

Updated August 5, 2022

The LAM Foundation is actively following the emerging news and science around the COVID-19 pandemic and will continually review the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization, as well as in-person events best practices. We will update our policies accordingly as they relate to decisions that prioritize the health and safety of our community.

The following are required for all attendees onsite:

Covid-19 Vaccination Plus Booster Requirement

The LAM Foundation requires that all conference attendees provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination,* which consists of the full course of the primary vaccine (for example, two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the J&J vaccine), plus a booster. In the interest of creating the safest environment possible, The LAM Foundation will not make exemptions for any reason, including religious or medical.

All attendees must upload a photo of their vaccination and booster cards at this link, or via text message if you recently received a text from our 3rd party verification platform.

More information pertinent to the LAM community regarding COVID-19 and vaccines is available HERE.

UPDATED: Face Masks Now Mandatory While Onsite

NEW 8/5/2022: Based on the high community spread of COVID-19 variants, and in accordance with the CDC guidance, we now require all onsite attendees to wear a properly fitting face mask during the conference while indoors and when not eating or drinking. The LAM Foundation will provide KN94 (or equivalent) masks to attendees onsite upon request.

Optional But Highly Advised: Second Boosters (If Eligible)

The LAM Foundation encourages all attendees to get a second booster for COVID-19 vaccination (if eligible) prior to the conference. This recommendation is most relevant to patients with severe lung disease (FEV1 and/or DLCO ≤50% predicted), patients on supplemental oxygen, patients older than 50 years of age, post-transplant patients, patients on sirolimus/everolimus, or patients with other immunosuppressive medical conditions.;

Getting a second booster prior to attending is a recommendation and not a requirement.

We also encourage all travelers to pack test kits in your luggage in case you experience symptoms while at the conference. If you are positive or if you have had recent exposure and are symptomatic, we ask that you refrain from attending conference events.

These policies are subject to change at any time. We will communicate any changes with you here and via email.

* Accepted vaccinations include those authorized for  use by the U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (J&J/Janssen) COVID-19 vaccines, and COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use by the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (for example, AstraZeneca/Oxford, Covishield, Sinopharm, and Sinovac). Additional vaccines are under development and the list of approved vaccines may change over time. Please check with the FDA and WHO via the links above for the latest list of approved vaccines.

I’m unsure if it’s safe for me to attend LAMposium. What should I do?plus

Always consult your doctor for guidance. If you feel it is unsafe for you to attend, there are ample opportunities to learn and participate virtually throughout the year. One suggestion is to participate in LAMposium in Your Living Room, an interactive educational webinar series, that features a broad range of topics presented by LAM experts. These sessions offer a remarkable opportunity to interact with clinicians, scientists, patients, and other members of our global LAM community. Registration is free and open to all.

I have a medical exemption from vaccinations. Can I get an exception?plus

We are unable to make any exceptions for the conference entrance vaccination requirement.

How will I submit my vaccination information?plus

In July and August 2022, all registered attendees will receive instructions via email on how to upload your vaccination card to our third-party app for verification.

Can I get a PCR or other test in advance of the conference to attend?plus

Yes, we strongly encourage individuals to get a PCR test prior to traveling for the conference as a personal precaution. That said, we cannot accept a negative test result as a replacement for the full vaccination plus booster requirement.

I’m not able to attend. Will any conference sessions be streamed virtually?plus

The International LAM Research Conference & LAMposium is designed as an in-person experience for attendees. We do not plan to live stream any conference session, though we may opt to make recordings of some sessions available for online viewing after the conference.

That said, you’re invited to join us online for educational opportunities throughout the year. The LAM Foundation website offers links to a wealth of previous events and a calendar for upcoming opportunities to join. In particular, we encourage you to participate in LAMposium in Your Living Room, our interactive educational webinar series, that features a broad range of topics presented by LAM experts. These sessions offer a remarkable opportunity to interact with clinicians, scientists, patients, and other members of our global LAM community. Registration is free and open to all.

What happens if I get sick onsite?plus

We would ask you to mask and quarantine in your room until you are able to be tested locally.