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I'm seeing polls that say only about half of the population is willing to get vaccinated.  That is not enough for herd immunity.  

If Gencon decides that vaccinations are necessary to attend, then people can choose not to get vaccinated. And thus choose not to go.

Herd immunity in that instance would be that the attendees have all been vaccinated. What the general population who isnt attending does or does not do shouldn't be a concern.

Or Gen Con could decide to not require that vaccinations are necessary to attend and the <20% (We gamers are far more likely that the average person to get the vaccine) who didn't get the vaccine are taking their health in their own hands. 

I have made the tough decision that once I'm fully vaccinated (sometime in June I'm guessing), I cannot no longer be a bleeding heart and worry about infecting someone who refuses to get theirself vaccinated.  I have sat in my front room for 12 months watching multiple 50+ person parties at the houses across the street (including one wedding) and seen enough non-socially distanced gatherings during my walks, store trips, etc to care any longer if me being vaccinated will put them at risk if they won't get the vaccine.  I will, of course, wear a mask as needed.

As an aside, I think I reached I was pushed over the line last week at Costco.  My wife and I recently converted to double masking.  Well, we pass a teenager and her dad.  The teen has her mask on...her head (yes, the top of her head).  My wife clearly hears her say, "Dad!  Check them out, they're wearing 2 masks...LOSERS!"  At that moment, I decided I can no longer worry about people that are not worrying about themselves or their families. 

Making vaccinations mandatory, which I entirely agree with, would in all likelihood preclude families with younger children from attending Gen Con this year, if it even happens. The most recent news I read about vaccines for kids younger than 12 states that the soonest Covid vaccines will be available for them would be late this year or early next year. As the dad of a younger kid, I'm not even considering going to large events like Gen Con with my family until he has the vaccine. And there are plenty of families with younger kids who attend Gen Con.

Knuteski, I agree with you about not caring about consequences for the deliberately, proudly ignorant. But as long as we have at least one unvaccinated person in our house, my family will proceed with caution. That means no in-person Gen Con for us this year.

I agree with your cautious approach.   I was just thinking from the convention's perspective, it's still worth it to hold it.  Unfortunately, due to no child vaccines there'll be many that can't come this year.   But, there'll still be more than enough to hold the convention.  It'll just be closer in size to the early Indianapolis / late Milwaukee days. 

Kids under 16 may never be approved for a Covid vaccine - it's dumb to set a policy that they would need them when receiving them may be forever impossible (just b/c they run a trial doesn't mean you get approval from a trial...and most trials take years, not weeks/months when they don't need to be expedited).

Just like the Shingles vaccine is only for those 50+, the Prevnar 23 is for 65+ (and both are also for immunocompromised adults) and the Meningococcal vaccine is for 16+ and the HPV vaccine is for 11 to about 35, some vaccines are just for certain ages.  

There's no way kids will need a vaccine for this Con if it runs.  Too many of the staff and volunteers probably have kids, and you can't run the Con without those adults.

Obviously parents have to take this into consideration when attending or allowing their children to attend.

We're honestly talking in circles and repeating things already said. 
Over 
and Over. 
I get it. We all have our opinions on this, and we've said them. There's no reason to resay them if you've already expressed how you feel about the vaccine/Gen Con being open/states opening... 
All we can do is continue to be vigilant and try to strive to see the end of this. 
 

Why only the state guidelines? What if the city guidelines are different?! 
I mean... Im sure rural parts of the state will be less dense than downtown Indy... so you may need more restrictions there. 

Whatever extra precautions we decide to take above those are the steps we feel we must take to ensure the health and safety of our attendees, partners, and staff.  

Mike

Going round and round about vaccines and being required to attend seems rather pointless since right now all 3 are EUA which, from everything I've read, means they really can't be required and are voluntary.    I guess someone could put that to the test from a legal standpoint and see what happens, but I doubt that will be Gencon.  Seems to me it would be more the airline industry, Disney or a large corporation.

If a person or Gencon really feels strongly that vaccines should be required then really the only avenue is to not attend or not have it in 2021.

Gencon doesnt have a choice on compliance with those so people who complain about them should contact the ICC. 

I am glad that Gencon is taking a safety first approach. 

As to requiring it, you would agree to the terms and conditions of the badge license. No mask or no vaccination would result in revocation of badge privileges. It's not that difficult.

No one has a "right" to attend the convention, so they have every right to require policies that would allow for a safe business to operate.

This isnt like a grocery store open to anyone. You need a badge to attend. A grocery store probably couldnt require vaccines to enter. But Gencon could.

I had my second shot yesterday. I was told to hang onto the proof as it might be needed in the future for airline flights. So there are already entities that may require a vaccine in order to travel. Gencon wouldn't be unusual.

Right.  As Mike alludes to above, the State, City and ICC guidelines at the time (still almost 5 months out...) will all be followed.  That's table stakes.  But, Gen Con could do more.  Despite what a previous poster says, I think there is at least the possibility that Gen Con could require vaccination.  They asked that question in the survey, after all.  And I 100% agree with squirecam:   The government isn't coming to your house to mandate a shot, but Gen Con is a private business, so...

kevinrg says:  "If a person or Gencon really feels strongly that vaccines should be required then really the only avenue is to not attend or not have it in 2021."    But, you could cut it the other way around.  If Gen Con did choose to require vaccines, you can opt to not attend.  Again, they asked those questions for a reason.  You should assume it is a possibility.  Most likely, some percentage of people will avoid coming if it is not a requirement.  Similarly, some who oppose vaccines won't come if they do require it.  

I was not drawing a pro/anti vaccine stance in any way.    I was speaking solely to the fact that right now, they are EUA vaccines which is a pretty big gray area as to what is legally allowed under a EUA for requirements.

And, if I was a business, how confident would I be in mandating certain policies from a legal standpoint.  (I sure don't have those answers).     If I was unsure or thought it would be an issue, I'd pass until 2022 and let everything wash out from a legal/logistical standpoint as I'd assume other larger entities would have tackled the problem for me.

Granted, it will probably be like the initial mask mandates with businesses in that one does it and just cascades down.   Given that airlines and sporting events haven't had vaccines as a mandate (yet) and they are ticketed 'events' that 1st domino hasn't fallen yet.  

Emergency Use Authorization is just with respect to the legality to bring the drug to market (in the U.S.).  It has zero to do with whether Gen Con, an airline or a school could require it (or anything else).  Gen Con has all kinds of rules in place of their choosing.  For example, Gen Con prohibits the carrying of weapons or weapon replicas, even though you could walk around the streets of Indianapolis with them.  Because, again, Gen Con gets to make its own rules based on what it deems necessary for safety.    If your opinion is that you don't like vaccines, you don't think they are safe, that's up to you.  But Gen Con still gets to do what Gen Con gets to do.  And then you get to decide if you will patronize.  And, make no mistake, some people's opinion will be that your unwillingness to get vaccinated puts them and the convention at greater risk. 

I do not envy Gen Con's spot in having to balance the disparate opinions out there.  

I'm not sure how a court would rule on it, but I think the distinction matters. Someone needs a necessity (food) and i think a court might find a vaccine restriction unreasonable for necessities of daily living. 

Alternatively you dont have to go to gencon or use air travel. These require a purchase along with compliance with their rules. As long as it isnt discrimination they can set health protections for attendees. 

And don't take my comments as a 'OMG they can't do this!' or a projection of what I would/wouldn't do personally.   Officially I'm in the I don't care... their party.   I just like discussing logistics/legality of everything which I find interesting.
At the end of the day, their party, whenever they set the rules I'll figure out if it is feasible for me to attend (will I be able to get a shot by then) or will even be desirable for me to attend based on the rules in play.

I do agree though, I do not envy their position whatever it is because they are damned if they do, damned if they don't with probably 25% on each side.