Dear colleagues,

We take this opportunity to update you on the status of the pandemic in Greece, the progress of
vaccinating the population, and how it is affecting the 5th AISDD.

Currently, the country is going through its 3rd wave of the pandemic, as other European countries
are. According to the experts, we are at the peak of this wave. The government estimates that, the
combination of the ongoing vaccination program and the strict quarantine measures in effect, will
show results in late April. They predict the country will be ready to open for tourism at the end
of May.

The vaccinations started in late January. As of today, over 1.5 vaccinations have taken place. So
far, 9.8% of the population has been vaccinated at least once, and 4.7% has completed their
vaccinations. It is estimated that by the beginning of July over 36% of the population will have
been vaccinated at least once, and 18% of the population will have received both jabs.

The above figures are clearly showing us the trend towards effectively controlling the spread and
shielding our society. We understand the return to normality is a matter of time. The question is
how much time; and is it enough until July 9-10, 2021 for us to host the 5th AISDD with the same
scientific quality you are accustomed to.

We are extremely confident regarding attendance from Greece. The information we are receiving are
very promising. After a year of online events only, our colleagues are thirsty to embrace a live
scientific event. Additionally, there are elements, like hands-on courses, that cannot be
experienced from a screen.

Our difficulties are with our International Faculty of experts. We always feature a high-caliber
Faculty of world- renowned experts, and we estimate that most of them will have a difficult
experience traveling. We are not confident enough that air travel quarantines and other
restrictions will have lifted to the point that would allow us to manage travel and accommodations
without putting our Faculty through hardship.

Therefore, together with our official organizing scientific body the Asian Institute of
Gastroenterology, we have decided to hold the 5th AISDD on a date that will allow us to have a
successful scientific meeting as we did the previous four times.

The 5th AISDD will take place on Friday & Saturday July 1-2, 2022.

This date is final. There will be no further changes. In fact, the opposite: we are currently
working hard to bring you an enhanced and hybrid experience. Everything else will remain the same:
The exact same venue and accommodation hotel, the exact same scientific program, faculty, and
hospitals.
The organizers, staff, and everyone involved, thank you for your extreme patience this past year.
We look forward to finally seeing you in Athens in 2022!

On behalf of the Organizing Committee,

Dr. Ioannis Katsogridakis
Scientific Director, AISDD

Preliminary Scientific Programme 2022
Hands-on Schedule 2022

Our updated Scientific Programme for 2022 will be available in December 2021