United Airlines says 97 percent of US employees fully vaccinated

United Airlines said in a memo on Wednesday that 97 percent of its employees in the U.S. are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. 

The deadline for vaccinations in the company is Sept. 27, and United said a “small number” of employees are looking for exemptions to the policy.

Employees who refuse to get vaccinated or do not receive an exemption will start to be fired on Sept. 28. 

Those who receive an exemption will be put on an unpaid temporary leave starting Sept. 28 until the company deems it is safe for them to return to work. 

The memo emphasized to employees that “vaccine requirements work,” echoing remarks made by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby in a CNN interview earlier in September. 

Kirby stated the best way to get more individuals vaccinated is through employee mandates. 

United Airlines was one of the few companies that mandated employees get vaccinated before President Biden said employers with more than 100 employees must require vaccines or provide weekly testing. 

Updated at 3:17 p.m.