Domestic airlines promise fully vaxxed crews by mid-November

Rex has become the latest airline to mandate vaccines for frontline staff, as a group of flight attendants push for an extension to the jab deadline.

Rex deputy chairman John Sharp has imposed a November 1 deadline for all customer-facing staff and crew to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Picture: Mark Brake

Regional Express airlines has set a November 1 deadline for all frontline crew and customer-facing staff to be vaccinated against Covid-19, two weeks earlier than Qantas and Virgin Australia.

The move will mean all domestic airlines will boast fully vaccinated crews in Australia, in an effort to reassure passengers of the safety of air travel.

Virgin Australia and Qantas have also mandated vaccination for staff, with frontline workers expected to be double-jabbed by November 15, and the remainder by March 31, 2022.

But up to 100 flight attendants from both airlines are pushing for an extension to the deadline, so they can receive the protein-based Novavax vaccination currently under development in the US.

Novavax is promoted as having fewer side effects than Pfizer or AstraZeneca and Australia has 51 million doses on order.

However the vaccine is awaiting Therapeutic Goods Administration approval and is not expected to arrive in Australia until early next year.

Flight Attendants Association of Australia national secretary Teri O’Toole said that could be too late for those members who were not prepared to be jabbed with other vaccines.

She said as many as 100, possibly more, had indicated they were happy to be vaccinated but wanted to wait for Novavax.

“It is tough when your company says ‘no jab, no job’ for people who have worked in the industry for many years and then doesn’t give those who have a preference or choice of vaccine an opportunity to get it,” Ms O’Toole said.

“Where is the harm for those crew working to be given the same amount of time to be vaccinated as others in the company?”

She said some members were even considering taking leave without pay to buy them some time to get the Novavax, beyond the November 15 deadline.

A survey of Rex’s 1400 staff found about 90 per cent were already on track to be fully vaccinated by November 1.

As of September 20, 59 per cent had been doubled jabbed and 31 per cent had received their first vaccination or booked an appointment.

Of the remainder, 8 per cent were unsure about vaccination and 2 per cent were opposed for medical or other reasons.

Virgin Australia and Qantas have also mandated vaccination for staff, with frontline workers expected to be double-jabbed by November 15, and the remainder by March 31, 2022.

Rex deputy chairman John Sharp said it had a duty of care to protect both passengers and staff.

“As the survey shows, Rex staff has overwhelmingly embraced this responsibility and has done its part to keep the nation safe,” Mr Sharp said.

“As we provide an essential service operating to regional centres and remote communities

throughout Australia, it is incumbent upon us to do whatever we can to help those residents

remain safe and healthy.”

He said Rex had consistently led the way in its response to the pandemic, imposing mandatory face masks on passengers and crew from April last year.

“The other carriers did not have the courage to do so until the federal government had to step in six months later to make this a regulatory requirement,” said Mr Sharp.

“Similarly, today Rex will be leading the industry by having all its crew and frontline staff fully vaccinated by November.”

Originally published as Domestic airlines promise fully vaxxed crews by mid-November