Airline Set to Require COVID Vaccination in Order to Fly

While the news of a number of possible COVID-19 vaccinations has put a fairly positive spin on the national mood as of late, there is still a rather sizable concern regarding who is going to be willing, or forced, to receive the jab itself.

There has long been an undercurrent of distrust in American culture, beginning with an overt unwillingness to trust our government, and extending far beyond, into the realm of just about any other authority as well.  This includes medical authorities and, in particular, the idea of vaccines.

This means that there are a great many Americans who are unwilling to even consider the possibility of being required to be vaccinated for just about anything.

And while our individual sovereignty is still intact, there are plenty of private companies out there who could make it difficult to live life without a COVID vaccine.  Qantas airlines might just be the first to take things this far, however.

Australian airline Qantas will require travelers on international flights to be jabbed with a coronavirus vaccine once an inoculation is ready, CEO Alan Joyce said.

“Whether you need that domestically, we’ll have to see what happens with COVID-19 in the market, but certainly for international visitors coming out and people leaving the country, we think that’s a necessity,” Joyce said in a Monday interview with the Australian news program “A Current Affair.”

Australia’s largest airline is planning to enshrine the mandate in its terms and conditions, which would be amended to say that international travelers must be vaccinated before they can board a Qantas plane, Joyce said.

The move could have a ripple effect throughout the industry as well, should other airlines experience a loss of business to Qantas’ sense of safety.