The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the World Small Animal Veterinary Association to postpone its 2020 World Congress and schedule two such events for 2021.
What was to have been held in September 2020 in Warsaw, Poland, instead will take place in the same city on March 21 to 24, 2021. Eight months later, Hyderabad, India, will play host to the 2021 World Congress.
“While we are extremely disappointed to have to postpone WSAVA World Congress, the safety and well-being of our delegates, speakers and exhibitors are our absolute priorities,” said WSAVA President Shane Ryan, BVSc, MVS, CVA, MChiroSc. “The continuing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to protect our colleagues ultimately made the decision a simple one.”
The rescheduled Warsaw conference will conclude one day before the British Small Animal Veterinary Association is set to welcome visitors to its conference in Manchester, England.
“The two associations are exploring options to encourage delegates to attend both events, including offering a combined registration fee,” WSAVA reported.
Multiple veterinary meetings have been canceled because of the pandemic. The American Veterinary Medical Association called off its annual in-person convention, which was set to start July 31 in San Diego, and instead is planning a virtual convention for Aug. 20 to 22. Registration is expected to open in late June.
One 2020 event that remains scheduled is the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association’s Annual Meeting and Conference. The summit is set for Sept. 10 to 12 in Orlando, Florida.
“Over the next several months, the VHMA will be closely monitoring COVID-19 developments,” according to a statement on the VHMA website. “We remain hopeful that the 2020 Annual Meeting and Conference will proceed as scheduled, however, we cannot predict what the world will be like in September.
“Should VHMA need to cancel the event to protect the health, safety and welfare of its members, registrants will be notified immediately and will receive a full refund of the registration fee or can opt to have the fee applied to a future VHMA event.”
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