Virgin Australia moves to make coronavirus vaccines mandatory for all staff

Virgin Australia is moving to make coronavirus vaccines mandatory for all staff from November 15.<br/>The airline will begin a consultation process between employees and unions, arguing the vaccine is "necessary" to keep workers, customers and "the wider Australian community safe". It follows a decision by Qantas to make the COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for staff, also by November 15. Virgin says a final policy will be announced in September following consultation and feedback with employees and unions. Under the proposal, frontline team members will be required to be vaccinated by November and all office-based team members by March 31, 2022. "Virgin Australia understands some team members have concerns and questions and has established an education campaign to assure and inform as many employees as possible ahead of 15 November 2021," the airline said Monday. "The company believes that requiring vaccination is the best way to protect the health and safety of our workforce, and in turn the wider Australian community and everyone's way of life."<br/>