Netflix will require Covid vaccines for actors and some team members on US sets

Netflix is ​​instituting a vaccination mandate for all of its US productions, according to a Deadline report.

While several individual productions have required vaccinations, Netflix is ​​the first major Hollywood studio to implement an all productions policy. The people covered by the mandate include all the actors and any team that comes into contact with them, also known as “zone A” workers. All staff in this category will need to show proof of vaccination, according to the report.

Exceptions to the policy will be rare, but could include medical, religious and age reasons, Deadline said.

The report comes as Covid cases continue to rise in the United States. Additionally, new Hollywood union back-to-work protocols recently opened the door for studios to require vaccinations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed the course on Wednesday and recommended that fully vaccinated people resume wearing masks indoors in places with high rates of Covid transmission. These hot spots include states like California and Georgia, where a large portion of US-based film and television productions take place.

Netflix representatives declined to comment, but a person familiar with the matter confirmed the information.

Other big companies instituting vaccination warrants include Google, which said on Wednesday it was extending its return to the office for employees until October 18. In an email to employees, CEO Sundar Pichai said the company will require anyone entering the office to be vaccinated.

Read the full Deadline report.