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Vaccination rates rise at TSA and CBP ahead of holiday season

Dec. 06, 2021
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2 min read
Deadline Arrives For Federal Workers To Be Vaccinated Against Covid-19
Vaccination rates rise at TSA and CBP ahead of holiday season
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After all that worry about Transportation Security Administration screeners, Customs and Border Protection officers and vaccine mandates, it looks like most are getting their shots after all.

The Department of Homeland Security on Monday posted a detailed update on its compliance with the Biden administration's vaccination executive order, and all of its agencies boast a greater than 90% compliance.

The TSA's compliance rate is 93%. Of that 93%, 86% of TSA employees are fully vaccinated, while 7% requested reasonable accommodations for religious, medical or other reasons.

CBP's compliance rate is 98%, with 87% of CBP employees fully vaccinated and 11% requesting reasonable accommodations.

Agency-wide, DHS boasts a 96% compliance rate, with 89% of employees fully vaccinated and 7% requesting reasonable accommodations.

The vaccination mandate had a Nov. 22 deadline, which was days before Thanksgiving. That date had some concerned about TSA's ability to meet the Thanksgiving travel rush. While the rush materialized — eight of the 10 days during the TSA's holiday period saw over 2 million people go through checkpoints — those staffing fears did not.

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“The employee vaccine mandate will not impact holiday travel,” agency spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said on Nov. 22.

More: TSA passenger screening numbers continue to inch up as holiday travel season begins

Lines at federal inspection stations, where CBP performs its border control activities, have likewise been longer since Nov. 8, when the U.S. removed its travel restrictions. (Travel restrictions on eight African nations were later imposed due to Omicron variant fears.)

As of Dec. 6, TSA currently has 320 employees with active COVID infections. During the pandemic, 11,406 of TSA's federal employees have tested positive, 11,086 have recovered and 33 have died. TSA employs nearly 60,000 people.

CBP has seen 12,359 federal employees with positive COVID cases during the pandemic, while 55 have died. CBP employs nearly 64,000 people.

Featured image by SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.