Delta to require new employees get vaccinated

Delta Air Lines announced on Friday that all new hires will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19, effective on Monday.

Delta will make exceptions for employees who “qualify for an accommodation.” The company also announced that it has made progress in achieving herd immunity within its workforce in the U.S. Sixty percent of the company’s employees are vaccinated.

“This is an important move to protect Delta’s people and customers, ensuring the airline can safely operate as demand returns and as it accelerates through recovery and into the future,” the company said in a statement. 

Delta will not require current employees to be vaccinated nor will it put out a company-wide vaccination mandate. 

In the airline’s statement, the company touted the effectiveness of vaccines in preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19. 

“Vaccines are safe, effective and essential to the future of the airline and our world,” the company said.

Delta’s announcement follows a new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released on Thursday stating that fully vaccinated Americans do not need to wear masks indoors or outdoors. However,  federal mask mandate remains in place for all transportation networks, which the Transportation Security Administration extended to September last week. 

The mask requirement is for travel on airplanes, in airports, buses and on rail systems.