The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be available to qualifying staff of United Airlines and American Airlines at O’Hare International Airport from Thursday, who stay and work in Chicago.
United Airlines is offering the vaccine by appointment at its health clinic in Terminal 2 on the baggage claim level, United O’Hare VP Omar Idris informed employees in a letter. Flight crew and United staffers at least 65 years old or older are eligible to register, according to the memo.
“I know there is still a great deal of confusion regarding who’s eligible to receive the vaccine and who shouldn’t be, and it may take months before all of our employees will be able to be vaccinated,” Idris stated.
Similarly, American Airlines will also make the vaccine available for its O’Hare staffers by appointment in Terminal 3, the airline confirmed.
The Chicago Tribune first reported the news that both airlines would vaccinate eligible staff working out of O’Hare.
United confirmed to Fox Business last month that CEO Scott Kirby was supporting efforts to make vaccination a requirement for employees. Kirby had first expressed his assist in making the vaccine mandatory at an employee town hall in January; the carrier soon clarified that mandatory vaccinations were something the airline is “strongly considering” but not yet implemented as a firm policy.
American Airlines, meanwhile, has previously said the company does not plan to require its team members to receive the COVID-19 vaccine unless they are required for entry in certain places.
