September 29, 2021—For the safety and comfort of members and to enable in-person events to take place with lower risk to participants, STFM is requiring attestation of COVID-19 vaccination for attendees, partners, and staff participating in STFM in-person meetings and events effective October 1, 2021.

This policy is based on guidance and recommendations issued by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health authorities. The COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA for emergency use authorization and the vaccines that the FDA has fully approved have been determined to be critical in reducing the community prevalence and transmission of COVID-19.

Effective October 1, 2021, all registrants for STFM meetings or events will be required to provide an attestation of full vaccination for COVID-19 as part of the registration process. The only exception to this policy will be verified religious or medical requirements. When this occurs, specific protocols will be discussed and required.

STFM will also require registrants to submit an Acknowledgment of Personal Responsibility Form upon registering for a meeting or event and to comply with any organizational and/or state or local safety protocols, eg, masking, in place for events.

“We are looking forward to being back together in person and want to do all we can to protect our members’ safety,” said STFM President Aaron Michelfelder, MD.