Southwest is the latest airline to force vaccines on workers

DALLAS (AP) – Southwest Airlines on Monday became the latest U.S. airline to require its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Dallas-based company said its employees must be fully immunized by December 8 in order to stay with the airline. Employees can request permission to skip injections for medical or religious reasons.

Southwest said it had to mandate vaccines due to the Biden administration’s new rules requiring companies with federal contracts to have staff vaccinated. Southwest’s work for the government includes piloting the military in an emergency and transporting mail for the US Postal Service.

Competitors American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and JetBlue told their staff last week they needed to get the vaccine. United Airlines in August was the first major airline to do so and has since said more than 97% of its employees have been vaccinated. United has also said it will put staff who cannot get vaccinated for medical or religious reasons on unpaid leave until COVID-19 rates drop.

Sud-Ouest has 54,000 employees.