Netflix has announced that they will make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for those working in Zone A (ie. the part of a set with actors) in its U.S. productions.
Netflix is closely following recently updated return-to-work protocols agreed upon by the guilds and studios which says the industry may mandate vaccinations in Zone A on a project-by-project basis.
However this will mark the first major studio to institute a blanket vaccination policy across all its productions. The move will allow for the easing of current protocols for fully vaccinated cast and crew.
Exemptions for medical, religious or age reasons may apply on Netflix sets. The streamer’s shows and films already in production may be able to continue on even if certain members of the production aren’t vaccinated – but those exceptions will be rare.
This comes as the delta variant, a far more contagious strain of the virus, continues to spread both in the United States where vaccines are plentiful, and globally where they’re still difficult to obtain in many countries.
U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to announce a mandate as early as this week requiring all federal government employees to be vaccinated.
Source: THR
