United Airlines could make the Covid-19 vaccine mandatory for employees, and other companies should do the same, United chief executive Scott Kirby told workers at a meeting on Thursday, according to a transcript reviewed by Reuters.
A United spokesman confirmed that the company was considering making vaccinations compulsory, although it was not yet a policy.
“I think the right thing to do is for United Airlines and other companies to need the vaccines and make it mandatory,” Kirby said.
“If others go along and are willing to order vaccines, you should probably expect United to be among the first wave of companies to do so.”
CNBC reported earlier that Kirby wants to dedicate the vaccine to employees.
Private U.S. businesses may require employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19, but that is unlikely to be done because of the risks of legal and cultural setbacks, experts said.
Companies are still in the early stages of accessing and distributing vaccines against the disease caused by the new coronavirus, but vaccination is seen as the key to safely resuming operations in print warehouses, factory lines and on the sales floors.