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United Airlines mandates COVID-19 vaccines for new US employees
United Airlines has confirmed its new policy which will require future flight attendants to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
The airline says it’s an effort to return the travel industry back to its former pre-pandemic glory.
Current flight attendants and pilots will be able to choose if they want to be vaccinated and the airline has offered incentives to those that do get the jab.
The airline will be rewarding flight attendants who get shots with extra vacation days. Those who don’t won’t be allowed to travel to countries that require vaccines and if they’re assigned to an international flight, can be removed from the schedule without compensation. That’s in addition to a vaccination requirement for new hires.
This follows a number of other companies implementing similar measures
Just today investment banking firm Goldman Sachs announced that it will require all employees to disclose whether or not they have been vaccinated against the virus.
The requirement of vaccination however, actually has a long history in the United States.
“Vaccine requirements have been around forever,”
Stephanie Wasserman, executive director of the pro-vaccine, Immunize Colorado.
“George Washington required his troops to get vaccinated for smallpox.”
“I imagine a big airline that suffered a lot of losses during the pandemic wants to bring back their business model where everyone wants to fly and everyone wants to fly in a safe and comfortable environment.”