Temp – Mysterium

2023 COVID-19 Policy FAQ

How do I know if I received a bivalent booster?

We recognize that it can be a little confusing to figure out which kind of vaccine you may have received, so we will be going off of the dates that the bivalent boosters became available. The requirements may differ depending on your country of residence.

For attendees in the United States:

If you completed an initial vaccine course (2-dose or single-dose), then you must have obtained a Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech booster on or after September 1, 2022.
If you did not complete an initial vaccine course, you must have obtained a single Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine dose on or after April 19, 2023.

For attendees in Canada:

In addition to an initial vaccine course, you must have received a booster on or after the following dates:

Booster Manufacturer	Date
Moderna	September 1, 2022
Pfizer-BioNTech	October 7, 2022

If you received a vaccine course and/or booster outside of those two countries, please reach out to us ahead of time at covid@mysterium.net.

What if I am unable to get a bivalent vaccine?

Bivalent vaccines are generally available in the US and Canada. If they are unavailable in your country (or are available, but not to you), please reach out to us at covid@mysterium.net to discuss the situation. Limited exemptions to the requirement that your vaccine be bivalent may be possible under special circumstances.

Is it possible that you will significantly change this COVID policy at a later date?

No. As noted above, we may make minor updates, but the core of the policy (vaccine and masking requirements) is final.

Will there be any exemptions offered to the vaccination policy?

Sorry but no*. If you are unable to attend due to vaccination and masking requirements, we will once again be offering a number of free activities online this year.

*the one possible, limited, exception is detailed in the FAQ question, “What if I am unable to get a bivalent booster?”

Which vaccines will be accepted?

For attendees from outside the United States:
The following CDC-recognized vaccines will be accepted as your primary course:

2 doses of any of the following

Pfizer-BioNTech
Moderna
AstraZeneca/Covishield
Covaxin
BIBP/Sinopharm
Sinovac
Novavax/Covovax

1 dose of any of the following

Janssen-Johnson & Johnson
CanSino

See elsewhere in the FAQ for information about the required bivalent boosters.

United States attendees may not be required to have obtained a primary vaccine course, depending on the date the vaccine was received. See “How do I know if I received a bivalent booster?” for information on vaccine requirements for US attendees.

Which forms of proof of vaccination will be accepted?

Original, photocopy, or photograph of CDC-issued COVID vaccination card
Original, photocopy, or photograph of WHO-recognized international COVID vaccination card
Digital SMART Health Card with a QR code (e.g., from the myColorado app) – see a list of issuers here

All forms must contain your full name, the brand of vaccine received, and the date(s) of each dose. Attendees over 18 must also display a photo ID with proof of vaccination.

If you are unable to use one of the above options, please reach out to us at covid@mysterium.net well in advance to discuss.

How will check-in work this year?

Staff will be checking your vaccination card (paper or digital) before issuing badges. After you collect your badge, you can pick up your t-shirt and swag (if any). Once your information has been verified, you will not need to show your proof of vaccination again during the weekend.

If you use a digital card, please have it ready on your phone for scanning. We’d also recommend having your paper card on hand as a backup, as Mysterium will not be responsible for any technical issues.

For anyone who pre-registered online, we will provide the option to show proof of vaccine and pick up your badge on Thursday evening (check the schedule page for times). This will allow you to save time on Friday and skip directly to the swag/t-shirt table.

We also may provide an option for you to show us you proof of vaccination virtually before the con weekend, but we have no further details on that at this time.

How will proof of vaccination be kept confidential?

The short version is that we will not store any of your vaccination information. Once we verify your vaccination status, we will mark it on your registration.

For on-site verification, we will only be asking attendees to display records at the time badges are issued. Verification will be as follows:

Physical vaccine cards (or photographs/photocopies thereof): The card will be visually inspected. No information will be stored.
SMART cards: We will use the SMART Verifier app, which prevents any information from being saved, including screenshots.

What if someone fakes their proof of vaccination?

Attempts to forge vaccination records will be considered a policy violation, and will result in removal from the convention and possibly a lifetime ban from Mysterium. The matter will also be referred to relevant authorities.

If I have to cancel, will I receive a refund for my flight/train/hotel room?

For transportation, contact your carrier for their cancellation policies. Hotel rooms booked at the Mysterium rate may be canceled up until three days prior to arrival without penalty, after which time the hotel will charge you some portion of your reservation.

Is it safe to attend a convention now?

This is a personal decision you will have to make. We encourage attendees to stay aware of current local infection rates and risks via the COVID-19 portal at the Spokane Regional Health District website here: https://covid.srhd.org/

Where can I find my vaccine information?

A lot of health networks will have their own patient portal where you can access all your records. (ie, MyChart, Patient Gateway, MyHealthONE, etc). From there, under “My Record”, there will be either a specific button for COVID-19 and your vaccination record will be there. It could also be listed under “immunizations”. Nearly every patient portal will have an app for cell phones, but can also be brought up on your web browser.
Some state health departments have registries (Immune Information Systems) that include your childhood and adult vaccines. You can request your immunization records from there, either by sending in a form, or some states have apps for this (ie, New Jersey has the Docket app). Lost vaccination cards are common, so it won’t be that much trouble to find yours through the state.
Pharmacies. Even if you got your shots at different pharmacies, each pharmacy will have a record of which shot they gave and when. For example, I got three of mine at CVS, but my fourth at Rite Aid, and I can see the three at CVS while Rite Aid shows the most recent shot given.

Do I need to wear a mask on the bus to/from Cyan?

Yes, the bus is considered part of the convention space, and therefore masks will be required.

Do I need to wear a mask?

Yes, masking will be required by attendees at all times when in indoor Mysterium spaces. Please see above for more detailed information.

Will you provide masks to attendees?

Yes. While it is recommended to bring your own masks, we will have a supply of surgical masks available.

Can you guarantee I won’t catch COVID?

No. There is an inherent risk in travel as well as any large gatherings. While vaccines are effective at reducing the risk of infection and serious illness, there is still some risk of infection. Decide for yourself if you are comfortable with this risk.

Are you offering any additional flexibility this year with registration cancellations?

While our normal refund policy ends 90 days before the convention, please let us know if you need to cancel closer to Mysterium due to a positive COVID-19 test/diagnosis. This includes situations where you may live with someone who tests positive within 7 days of the convention. We will work with you on a case-by-case basis to arrange a refund of your registration fee, and/or ship you any swag/merchandise you would have received.