26th Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering (GC&E) Conference
Last Updated: March 14, 2021 – Subject to Change
To promote the safety of our attendees, speakers, exhibitors and staff, the ACS Green Chemistry Institute has incorporated the following health and safety protocols. Informed by the guidance and requirements of the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), and other local regulations regarding COVID safety practices, this Attendee Safety Plan is subject to change as needed.
IMPORTANT: In light of events surrounding COVID-19, this is an appropriate time to remind ourselves of the risks incident to participating in the GC&E Conference. Even with every reasonable precaution to keep you safe as outlined for you by the CDC, ACS cannot fully eliminate all risks of harm to attendees or guarantee their safety, especially from risks posed by COVID-19 or its variant strains. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own safety.
Failure to adhere to the following requirements could lead to removal from the venue or other disciplinary action.
Additional restrictions on participants may come in accordance with the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and applicable federal, state, or local governmental orders, regulations, and/or guidelines intended to reduce the spread and risks of exposure to COVID-19.
Register for GC&E 2022. Provide your (unique) mobile phone number.
Text Message. You will receive a text message from HealthShield (866-209-8957) with an upload link within 24 hours of registering, or scan the QR Code.
Upload your information. Follow the link in the message or reply ‘Upload’ to the HealthShield number to upload your proof of vaccination.
Status. You will receive a status update within 2 business days of uploading. You may check the status at any time by replying ‘Status’ to the original HealthShield message.
International attendees (or those unable to upload via text message) will need to contact ACS Member Services after registering in order to receive the web messenger link to upload proof of vaccination.
All attendees, exhibitors and staff should NOT ATTEND if:
CDC Website:
Yes, full vaccination will be required for all attendees, exhibitors, vendors, and staff who seek to gain access to the in-person conference in Reston, VA.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), people are considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 two weeks after they have received the second dose in a two-dose series (e.g., Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna), or two weeks after they have received a single-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson’s/Janssen).
Vaccination guidance applies to COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use and for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (i.e., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines), and COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) (i.e. Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson (J&J)/Janssen, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Covishield, Covaxin, Sinopharm/BBIBP-CorV, and Sinovac/CoronaVac), on or before February 15, 2022.
The full list of vaccines with final WHO EUL/PQ evaluation status is available the World Health Organization. ACS may expand the list of vaccines, provide more specific guidance regarding mixed vaccination dosing, and/or provide additional guidance regarding boosters as prevailing public health guidance evolves.
Once you have registered, you will receive either a text or email from HealthShield (42Chat) with instructions on how to upload your vaccination card. Once your vaccination card has been reviewed and approved, you will receive either a text or email with a check mark to verify approval. You will display this check mark at onsite registration to receive your badge. View HealthShield FAQs.
The email confirmation will come from support@42chat.com.
ACS will be alerted of the denial and will contact the individual directly for next steps.
What could cause the denial of my vaccination card?
Denial could happen for various reasons, if including the information on the card isn’t legible, if you are not considered fully vaccinated based on your vaccination date (must be fully vaccinated by May 23), if your vaccination card doesn’t appear to be authentic, or if your vaccination is not one that is accepted by the CDC or the WHO.
Individuals will be required to upload their vaccination card prior to arriving in Reston. Once onsite, individuals will have to show proof of vaccination by displaying the green check mark they received either via text or email from HealthShield (42Chat) verifying vaccination upload.
Individuals may pick up their badge beginning Sunday, June 5 at 3:00 PM in the GC&E Registration Area in the Reston Hyatt.
Yes, ACS is requiring that all GC&E 2022 attendees, vendors, exhibitors, and ACS Staff wear a face mask while in the Hyatt Regency Reston, or any facility hosting an ACS-sponsored event or meeting, or while attending an ACS hosted/sponsored events or meetings. An acceptable “mask” is one that is made of at least 2 layers of breathable fabric or hospital grade material; fully covers the nose, nostrils, and mouth; and fits firmly under the chin, and snugly, but comfortably against the side of the face.
In light of events surrounding the COVID-19, ACS reminds you of the risks incident to participating in GC&E 2022. Even with every reasonable precaution to keep you safe as outlined for you by the CDC, ACS cannot fully eliminate all risks of harm to attendees or guarantee their safety, especially from risks posed by COVID-19 or its variant strains. You are ultimately responsible for your own safety.
To promote the safety of everyone at the event, ACS will follow the guidance and requirements of the CDC, State of Virginia, Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Hyatt Regency and other local regulations regarding COVID safety practices. An Attendee Safety Plan has been developed and will be followed. The Attendee Safety Plan may change from time-to-time until the start of and during GC&E 2022. Everyone in attendance, including attendees, vendors, exhibitors, and staff are expected to comply with ACS’s directions relative to health and safety while attending. Failure to adhere to the requirements could lead to removal from the venue or other disciplinary action.
Your temperature will not be taken at entry.
You will not be required to answer daily health questions to gain entrance to venues, however, you will be required to wear your badge at all times while attending meetings at events at GC&E 2022. Your badge is a visual indicator that you are fully vaccinated.
If you have these or other COVID-19 related symptoms, you will be denied entry, safely escorted to a wellness area, and advised to seek medical attention immediately. ACS reserves the right to deny entry to or remove anyone within the Center presenting with COVID-19 related symptoms.
Partitions or Plexiglas barriers will be present at registration, information and ACS points of sale. A wellness area for individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will be available to those unable to leave immediately. Hand sanitizers and disposable face masks will also be available for all attendees during the conference for usage.
All attendees are expected to fully comply with all health and safety guidelines. Attendees must acknowledge guidelines and agree at the time of registration to comply with them. Refusal to agree with ACS’s health and safety guidelines may result in a denial of registration. Attendees will also be required to upload their vaccination card in order to receive their badge. All attendees must wear their badge to show as a visual indicator that they are fully vaccinated.
ACS will have a Compliance Officer walking the meeting venues to ensure attendees are wearing a badge and that all guidelines are being followed. Any violations of the guidelines will be addressed by Compliance Officer, security, and/or ACS staff as soon as practicable following observation/notification of non-compliance. A Health & Safety Contact phone number will be clearly noted on signage throughout the meeting to allow for reporting of any concerns.
ACS works with each venue to review sanitization standards. Attendees are responsible for maintaining personal hygiene, including washing your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water.
ACS discourages handshaking, hugging, or other unnecessary person-to-person contact.
At ACS’s sole discretion, we have the right to consider the circumstances in determining whether or not to issue a full refund.
If you are a U.S. Citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or immigrant, visit International Travel: Information for U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, Lawful Permanent Residents, and Immigrants for requirements before arriving in the United States.
For non-U.S. citizens or non-U.S. immigrants:
I have specific questions that are not addressed here. Who can help me?
Safety is a core priority at the American Chemical Society. In order to promote the welfare of all conference attendees, all participants must:
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