Going to HIMSS21 in Vegas? Here's what you need to know

HIMSS21 will kick off one week from today in Las Vegas as the first and largest on-site healthcare conference since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring.

The conference host, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), announced in May it adopted a “vaccination required” approach for all attendees, exhibitors and HIMSS staff for HIMSS21, slated to take place August 9-13 in Las Vegas. 

HIMSS also is offering a digital event along with the in-person conference for those who don't want to travel to Las Vegas.

Worsening COVID conditions have likely impacted registration for the event. According to HIMSS, more than 18,000 people have registered for the digital and in-person experience, with new registrations continuing to roll in. By comparison, HIMSS19 had 43,000 registrants.

There are 735 companies signed up as exhibitors, about half the usual number.

While lower attendance will make for less crowded hallways at the conference, the HIMSS conference also will be a testing ground for the return of live in-person events, and at a time when the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to rage across the country.

As the conference approaches, the state of Nevada is seeing a surge in cases.

Only 44% of Nevadans are fully vaccinated. Overall, the Silver State is recording an average of 32.7 new daily cases per 100,000 people—a 22% jump since last week, Forbes reported July 30.

The highest number of COVID-19 cases is in Clark County, where Las Vegas is located. The Clark County Commission voted last week in an emergency meeting to require face coverings for all employees working indoors, according to Forbes.