These are BLFC’s policies for the October-November 2023 convention. There is also a PDF version available.

TL;DR

• Initial Vaccine and One Booster required
• If your most recent vaccine was September 1st, 2022, or later, a booster is not required.
• Masks are not required

Vaccination (Updated September 29th, 2023)

To attend Biggest Little Fur Con 2023, you must have either:
RECEIVED AN INITIAL COVID VACCINE SERIES AND AT LEAST ONE BOOSTER
or
RECEIVED YOUR MOST RECENT COVID VACCINE DOSE ON OR AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2022

Proof of vaccination will be required at registration to purchase or pick up a badge.

Masking

Masks are not required at BLFC 2023.

For those who wish to wear a mask, we recommend using an approved N95 mask or similar.

Proof of Vaccination

For United States residents, we will accept:

• Physical CDC card
• Photo of CDC card
• Photocopy of CDC card
• Digital vaccine record approved by your home state which displays the following information:
  • Your Legal Name
  • Vaccine Brand
  • Vaccination Dates
• Printed or digital vaccine records from an electronic health record (EHR)

Please note that we are not able to accept QR codes without accompanying human-readable information. You must be able to display the information listed above in plain text on your device.

For international attendees, please bring the document your country uses to record proof of vaccination, or a picture or copy of that document.

Any COVID-19 vaccine governmentally approved for use in your home country will be accepted.

Exemptions

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you may request an exemption from the vaccine requirement. Exemption requests must be due to medical reasons. No other exemptions will be considered. Exemption requests must be made in advance.

To apply for a vaccination exemption:

• Please read and complete the Vaccine Exemption Form and email to vax@goblfc.org.
• Exemption requests must be received by September 30th, 2023.
• Your exemption request will be reviewed, and you will be contacted by email with further information. You may be asked to provide a letter from a medical professional and/or other documentation. This is not required to initially submit an exemption request.
• If your exemption is granted, you must make plans to get a COVID-19 test, administered by a medical professional, no earlier than October 27th, 2023.
  • Tests are commonly available from state health departments and major pharmacies.
  • Remember to plan ahead for your test!
• Bring the following to the convention, which we will collect:
  • A signed paper copy of your exemption form.
  • A paper copy of your negative test result dated October 27th, 2023, or later.

Changes

In the interest of transparency, we want to advise our attendees that this policy may change in the future if recommended or required by CDC, State, Local, or Venue policies.

FAQ

Why did you change your COVID-19 policy?

We were informed of concerns about booster availability in some countries. This led to additional discussions and research. See the full statement on the change here.

Why are medical exemptions being allowed?

Legal counsel has advised us that we are required to provide medical exemptions to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). We expect to see very few exemptions.

Are the COVID precautions in Reno the same as in my state?

Every state has differences both in law and in custom. If you are concerned about specific risks, we encourage you to check with a doctor and/or research the differences to determine if you feel comfortable attending.

Will there be unvaccinated people outside of con space?

Yes. Please remember the rest of the hotel, elevators, hallways, casino, restaurants, and other activities are open to the public and we can’t control who will be present. Masks are the most effective protection.

Will there be unmasked people outside of con space?

Yes. The Grand Sierra Resort and Casino has ended their masking policy. This includes the portions of the hotel listed above. BLFC policy will apply within convention space.

I believe someone is creating fraudulent vaccine cards for themselves or others. What can I do?

To report suspicious activity involving fake vaccination record cards, please contact the appropriate government agency in your state or jurisdiction, HHS-OIG (1-800-HHS-TIPS or www.oig.hhs.gov), or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov).

What happens if someone presents a fraudulent proof of vaccination at the convention?

They will be ejected from the convention, and we will contact law enforcement.

Questions

If you have questions about vaccine requirements, testing requirements, or exemptions, please contact us using the button below or email vax@goblfc.org. No other inquiries will be responded to at this address.

Ask a COVID-19 Question