The International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) has made the difficult decision, after careful consideration and comprehensive evaluation of currently available information related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, to cancel the Mid-Year Meeting, originally scheduled for April 18-21 in Orlando, Florida. The meeting will not be rescheduled this year.
ISPE has been closely monitoring the rapidly increasing domestic and worldwide developments during the last several weeks related to COVID-19. This evidence-based decision was made after a thorough review and discussion of all factors impacting the meeting, including the U.S. government's recent announcement of new restrictions on international travelers to enter the U.S.; the imposition of travel restrictions issued by U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies; and the counsel of infectious disease experts. It is clear that all of these elements significantly affect the ability of delegates, speakers, and exhibitors to participate fully in the Mid-Year Meeting.
The health, safety, and security of all Mid-Year Meeting attendees and the communities they serve are ISPE's highest priorities. While we believe that the decision to cancel the meeting is the correct one to safeguard our meeting participants from further potential exposure to the coronavirus, we also understand that this is a disappointing one for everyone involved. We thank all of our volunteer leaders, exhibitors and sponsors for their patience and support at this time.
Within the next two weeks, full refunds will be processed for everyone currently registered for the meeting back to the original method of payment; if we encounter problems refunding registrants, we will contact you.
Additional information regarding hotel reservation cancellations will be announced shortly. Please contact your airline carrier directly and follow their guidelines regarding the changing or cancellation of flights.
Our sincere sympathies go out to everyone impacted by this global health crisis.
UNC Department of Epidemiology and Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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* Note: the case numbers and death count in this webinar are outdated but the content on corona viruses, COVID-19 and how infectious diseases are monitored has not changed.
(Last updated 3/17/2020)
