U.S. Travel Opposed to Domestic Travel Vaccine Mandates
by Jessica Montevago /
The U.S. Travel Association is opposing a potential domestic travel vaccine mandate, a policy supported by White House Chief Medical Advisor to the President Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“I would support that if you want to get on a plane and travel with other people that you should be vaccinated,” he said in an interview for an upcoming episode of theSkimm’s “Skimm This” podcast.
According to a recent Gallup poll, more than six in 10 Americans (61%) now support requiring proof of full vaccination before getting on a plane. That is up from 57% in April 2021.
Canada implemented a vaccine mandate last month for all domestic plane, train, and cruise ship travel.
In response to Dr. Fauci’s comments, Tori Emerson Barnes, executive vice president of public affairs and policy for U.S. Travel said such a policy would “have an unfair, negative impact on families with young children who are not yet eligible to get the vaccine.”
Instead, Emerson Barnes said, “While U.S. Travel does not endorse a national vaccine mandate, we continue to believe that vaccines are the fastest path back to normalcy for all, and we strongly encourage all who are eligible to get a vaccine immediately to protect themselves, their families and their neighbors.
“The science—including studies from the Harvard School of Public Health and the U.S. Department of Defense—overwhelmingly points to the safety of air travel as long as masks are worn. And with the federal mask mandate for all forms of public transportation and U.S. airports extended through January 2022, proper tools are already in place to enable safe air travel for Americans.