Breaking: Amtrak says all employees must be fully vaccinated as of Nov. 1
On the heels of several U.S. airlines' announcements requiring all employees to be vaccinated, Amtrak has announced a similar policy.
Amtrak on Aug. 11 announced that all new hires must be vaccinated against the coronavirus as of Oct. 1, according to an internal memo seen by TPG. Additionally, Amtrak is mandating all employees to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1. Employees not fully vaccinated will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result weekly, according to the memo. Employees will be required to submit proof of vaccination to Amtrak's self-service portal.
The U.S. rail company in the memo noted that "many employees" have expressed apprehension about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
"We understand these concerns and encourage everyone to consult with a medical professional and seek out facts from reputable sources," William Flynn, Amtrak's chief executive officer, wrote in the memo.
The news comes as several airlines have instituted vaccine mandates for employees. United Airlines announced in early August it would require all of its U.S. employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
Frontier Airlines says it will require all direct employees to be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Oct. 1.
In May, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said that the airline would require all new hires to be vaccinated, but stopped short of requiring it for current employees. American Airlines, meanwhile, has not implemented a similar requirement.