SNAFU Con
Sierra Nevada Anime Fans Unite!
SNAFU Con is an anime convention in the Reno/Sparks area of Nevada. Friday, November 17th through Sunday, November 19th, 2023 in The Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, 2500 E. Second Street, Reno, NV 89595
VACCINES REQUIRED FOR CON THIS YEAR.
Read our full COVID-19 policy here.
Quicklinks:
Policies for COVID-19
VACCINES REQUIRED Index
For our 2023 convention, we will be requiring all persons who participate in the convention to be vaccinated with at least one COVID-19 vaccine since September 2022. This means either the bivalent vaccine released September 2022 or the new vaccine coming out shortly before the convention will qualify: either, or both, works.
Proof of vaccination will be required to receive your badge from registration.
What we will accept as proof of vaccination:
If you have any questions about if your records will be accepted, please email us and ask, but please do not email us an unmodified copy of your records! If we need to see your documentation to make a call as to whether it's valid for us, please redact it appropriately.
If you are unable to receive vaccination for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Instructions for exemption are in the following section.
Children under the age of 6 months of age are exempted from vaccination requirements.
NOTE: We are considering temporary storage of vaccine records to allow approval in advance through our online system. DO NOT EMAIL THEM, we cannot delete emailed records and we do not want to keep them.
Negative tests are only required if you have a medical exemption. However you are welcome to get tested anyway to ensure you are not bringing a break-through case to con. You will not need to show proof of that test unless you are not vaccinated and have a medical exemption on record with us.
Proof of vaccination will be required to receive your badge from registration.
What we will accept as proof of vaccination:
- SMART Health Cards
- CDC Vaccination Card
- A VERY GOOD photograph, photo copy, or digital copy of your CDC Vaccination Card. If it's on your phone we will want to zoom in to see details.
- For most vaccinations done inside Nevada, you can retrieve a copy of your vaccinations for personal use from WebIZ. If you download the "Download COVID-19 record" pdf, that file will have all the info you need.
If you have any questions about if your records will be accepted, please email us and ask, but please do not email us an unmodified copy of your records! If we need to see your documentation to make a call as to whether it's valid for us, please redact it appropriately.
If you are unable to receive vaccination for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Instructions for exemption are in the following section.
Children under the age of 6 months of age are exempted from vaccination requirements.
NOTE: We are considering temporary storage of vaccine records to allow approval in advance through our online system. DO NOT EMAIL THEM, we cannot delete emailed records and we do not want to keep them.
Negative tests are only required if you have a medical exemption. However you are welcome to get tested anyway to ensure you are not bringing a break-through case to con. You will not need to show proof of that test unless you are not vaccinated and have a medical exemption on record with us.
Exemption Process Index
If you are unable to receive vaccination for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption; for everyone's safety we have decided to limit the number of exemptions granted to 5% of our expected attendance, which is a total of 100 people. Children under the age of 6 months are automatically exempted from the vaccination requirement. Being able to receive the vaccine and you just didn't do it in time for the convention is not a medical reason.
For all individuals who are granted exemption (adults and minors), you must complete a COVID test at home to determine that you are not bringing COVID-19 to the convention, and when you arrive at the convention we will have you do another at-home test at registration. Alternatively, if you have the ability, we will accept documentation of a negative test completed by a medical professional within 72 hours of picking up your badge.
How to get an exemption
Please email [email protected] with your request for exemption from our vaccination requirement along with a doctor's note from an MD or DO on the doctor's letterhead stating that they do not recommend you receive the COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons. Please ensure they do not explain any medical condition that you have as we do not want to know. An official medical note on letterhead will be required for every person 6 months of age and older that needs to be exempt from our vaccine requirement. A single note listing multiple family members by name will be acceptable for all people listed.
For all individuals who are granted exemption (adults and minors), you must complete a COVID test at home to determine that you are not bringing COVID-19 to the convention, and when you arrive at the convention we will have you do another at-home test at registration. Alternatively, if you have the ability, we will accept documentation of a negative test completed by a medical professional within 72 hours of picking up your badge.
How to get an exemption
Please email [email protected] with your request for exemption from our vaccination requirement along with a doctor's note from an MD or DO on the doctor's letterhead stating that they do not recommend you receive the COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons. Please ensure they do not explain any medical condition that you have as we do not want to know. An official medical note on letterhead will be required for every person 6 months of age and older that needs to be exempt from our vaccine requirement. A single note listing multiple family members by name will be acceptable for all people listed.
Group Pickups Index
Due to requiring vaccine proof for every participant we are not doing group pickups this year. Every person must pick up their own badge except children may be picked up by their parent or guardian.
Masks Encouraged Index
- While masks a not required for attendees, they are strongly encouraged.
- N95/KN95 required for anyone who has received a vaccine medical exemption to attend.
- N95/KN95 required for on-shift staff & volunteers in customer-facing positions
- Cloth masks or face shields, or better are required for panelists/performers while they are panelisting/performing.
- N95/KN95 required for vendors/artists while they are at their booth/table.
We will be selling SNAFU Con branded masks for $10, but please keep in mind that they are not K/N95. They can be worn over another mask if desired.
- N95/KN95 required for anyone who has received a vaccine medical exemption to attend.
- N95/KN95 required for on-shift staff & volunteers in customer-facing positions
- Cloth masks or face shields, or better are required for panelists/performers while they are panelisting/performing.
- N95/KN95 required for vendors/artists while they are at their booth/table.
We will be selling SNAFU Con branded masks for $10, but please keep in mind that they are not K/N95. They can be worn over another mask if desired.
Refunds and Registration Forwards Index
If you had chosen not to attend the 2021 convention for any reason, we have automatically moved your paid 2021 registration to 2023.
We are again offering no-questions-asked refunds to anyone who has pre-registered for SNAFU Con 2023. We will attempt to refund you automatically through Paypal; if that doesn't work for any reason we will mail you a paper check.
Request a Refund
Refund requests will be accepted online until registration closes on November 13, 2023.
We are again offering no-questions-asked refunds to anyone who has pre-registered for SNAFU Con 2023. We will attempt to refund you automatically through Paypal; if that doesn't work for any reason we will mail you a paper check.
Request a Refund
Refund requests will be accepted online until registration closes on November 13, 2023.
If you feel sick at con Index
We will be offering partial refunds for anyone who feels sick and chooses to leave and quarantine themselves.
Accommodations Index
We are going to be doing our best to provide some online content in our Discord for individuals who cannot or choose not to attend. More information will be provided as we get close to con.
FAQ Index
My parents won't let me get vaccinated, can I still come?
Sorry for 2023 we are requiring all people participating to be vaccinated unless they have a medical exemption.
Do I need to get a test if I'm vaccinated?
No, we're only requiring proof of vaccination. However, if you'd like, you can also get tested just to be sure you're not bringing COVID-19 to the con but you will not need to show proof of that test.
Can I bring my group member's vaccination record so I can pick up their badge?
No, we don't want to encourage letting other people have your medical records.
How do I get a medical exemption from the vaccine requirement?
Email us with a doctor's note. See above "Exemption Process" section for more detailed instructions.
Will (some website) be acceptable proof of vaccination?
Possibly, but we're looking to avoid accepting websites. We are accepting SMART Health Cards which you can probably make from your website. Contact us if you have any questions on how to make a SMART Health Card and we'll do our best to help you. WebIZ (instructions above) gives you one.
Can I use rapid or at-home tests?
For 2023 we are accepting at-home tests taken at registration. Take one at home before you come to registration to ensure you are not bringing COVID to the registration desk, but we cannot accept that one as proof to get in.
I've got my first shot in 2021 is that enough? / I got my last booster in September, do I need another one?
Our requirement was based on the CDC guidance at the time of policy development, which was that one bivalent (which therefore meant after September 2022) vaccine to be considered fully vaccinated. If your last vaccine was before then you probably need a booster (check with your doctor or pharmacist). Note that the new 2023 vaccine definitely qualifies as more recent!
Sorry for 2023 we are requiring all people participating to be vaccinated unless they have a medical exemption.
Do I need to get a test if I'm vaccinated?
No, we're only requiring proof of vaccination. However, if you'd like, you can also get tested just to be sure you're not bringing COVID-19 to the con but you will not need to show proof of that test.
Can I bring my group member's vaccination record so I can pick up their badge?
No, we don't want to encourage letting other people have your medical records.
How do I get a medical exemption from the vaccine requirement?
Email us with a doctor's note. See above "Exemption Process" section for more detailed instructions.
Will (some website) be acceptable proof of vaccination?
Possibly, but we're looking to avoid accepting websites. We are accepting SMART Health Cards which you can probably make from your website. Contact us if you have any questions on how to make a SMART Health Card and we'll do our best to help you. WebIZ (instructions above) gives you one.
Can I use rapid or at-home tests?
For 2023 we are accepting at-home tests taken at registration. Take one at home before you come to registration to ensure you are not bringing COVID to the registration desk, but we cannot accept that one as proof to get in.
I've got my first shot in 2021 is that enough? / I got my last booster in September, do I need another one?
Our requirement was based on the CDC guidance at the time of policy development, which was that one bivalent (which therefore meant after September 2022) vaccine to be considered fully vaccinated. If your last vaccine was before then you probably need a booster (check with your doctor or pharmacist). Note that the new 2023 vaccine definitely qualifies as more recent!