Checking that guests have had the Covid19 vaccination

[Bryan10]

It looks like there will be a few workable vaccines within the next few months. Yay!  Have you thought about asking if future guests have had the vaccine, so you know that you and co-guests will be safe? Will you insist they've been jabbed before they come? Is there a way for them to prove they've been vaccinated (certificate etc)?  Is it necessary for all your guests to have had the vaccine, if you're not sharing a space?  Should there be a centralised Airbnb certificate for this (like getting verified)? Your thoughts & opinions please! 

[Sharon1014]

Latest scientific concerns about vaccines currently under development

AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine trial mistake could affect approval (news.com.au)

[Cathie19]

@Bryan10, @Sharon1014 , @Helen350 , @David192 , @Helen427  @Anonymous , @Melodie-And-John0 , @Lisa723 @Kia272 

To guests:

If you don’t want to follow hygiene procedures or vaccinate, then don’t... but don’t expect carte- blanche travel. Adjust to what is allowed within the current and fluid global framework.

I have travelled globally, a lot, and have never needed to disclose any medical condition or my vaccinations to a person I have communicated with for accommodation > heaven’s no! Nor would I!  

I would tell you where to go.... BIG TIME!  Seriously! For it’s not the business of a host or a concierge ....

I would stay where safe and hygienic protocols were obviously entrenched. If you want to get too close during a global pandemic.... then back off! There’s a place for disclosure and to AIrbnb hosts, is not one of them.

DO I tell immigration on entering a country? YES, and rightly so....  Do I travel with proof? Yes I do...

——

With Qantas being one of the safer airlines in the world, it will be interesting to see if this ruling improves business. With baby boomers being a large sector of the recreational traveller, this “feel” for vaccination = able to fly with us, might just make those in a higher risk category considering flying once international travel reopens, might make it more attractive and viable. If you don’t want to vaccinate... then don’t fly Qantas, or any airline that goes the same way! 

I’m unsure about Covid19  vaccination until it’s been through more testing and better results. I was a child who lost family through thalidomide, so I’m not a vaccinating junkie.

BUT Qantas currently require masks, so this is just appears in this early stage of debate, a mere extension of its safety policy. Like any company, you can choose to patronise it or not! But to disclose, I have whatever vaccines I am required to have for herd immunity, that is proven. That herd, includes the vulnerable, elderly, small babies-grandchildren: protecting them through my vaccinations from exposure to influenza, whooping cough, and has historically included: polio, chicken pox, measles mumps, rubella, adult diphtheria and tetanus, to name some..... if I need shingles and pneumococcal etc etc, I’ll have those too. For any day above ground, with reasonable quality of life, is a good day.

So if you come to my AIrbnb, I’ll be keeping everyone as safe as I can, through WHS practises and procedures and those protocols required by WHO and government: but if I can’t, I’ll stop hosting till there is more certainty.  🙌🏼💐

This is an opinion for my actions and my AIrbnb. It’s not a statement to raise argument or dissent from those who choose to disagree. That’s the beauty of the global village and AIrbnb: we find the guest/ host relationship that works best for us.

[Helen350]

It is perfectly reasonable to enquire re vax status. Any guest who refuses to answer the question should go to an Airbnb that does not care whether vaccinated or not!

Last week I had a hospital doctor stay in my homeshare. (via UK lodger/tenant finding platform) She will be coming back after a weekend at home any minute now! We've been having long chats.... She volunteered that she's had Covid, back in February, and was antibody positive when last tested in July. OK, she mentioned it first, but if she had not, I feel it would have been reasonable to ask. In 2 days time, she's transferring to my LTR, sharing with the existing tenant, so I have a responsibility to him too. She approached many 'room offered' ads, but I was the only one that replied. 'Perhaps people didn't want to host a hospital doctor, afraid they'd catch Covid' I said... 'Oh, do you think so; I never thought of that!' she said! Now, once we have the vaccine, (& doctors will be first in the queue) landlords can just ask for reassurance, rather than turn people down.  

[Michelle2475]

@Cathie19 you are exactly right!  Particularly with your reference to thalidomide- the doctors said it was safe. How did that turn out?  If I have to wear a gold star on my jacket then so be it. However, I will say that I rent a house I do not live in (I’ve never actually even stayed there). I leave a day before and a day after blocked so my cleaner can work within the timeframe she’s comfortable with. I fear we are moving way beyond discrimination against age, race, etc. 

[Sharon1014]

Qantas lays off 2000 baggage handlers, doesn't expect international travel to return to normal levels until 2024

“While there has been some good news recently with domestic borders, international travel isn’t expected to return to pre-COVID levels until at least 2024,” Mr David said.

“We have a massive job ahead of us to repay debt, and we know our competitors are aggressively cutting costs to emerge leaner.”

Qantas culls 2000 baggage handling jobs as part of operational overhaul (news.com.au)

@Bryan10  @Helen350  @Cathie19  @David192  @Melodie-And-John0 @Robin4  @Helen427 

[Helen427]

Wow that's appalling @Sharon1014 but no surprises with Allan Joyce and his $24 million dollar salary and his role with World Economic Forum.

One has to question the common sense, lack of, some of these people in CEO positions have.

I've seen it a few times now with the same 'Executive' personal here in New Zealand with those who worked at New Zealand Post, went to Finance and then other industries they have totally munted as they simply lack the skill sets they claim to have and don't give a toss at damage they create and trail of destruction left behind.

They need to be held to account in Courts of Laws.

There's some interesting comments readers have written in the link.

I notice the Unions are blaming the executives however unions invest the monies from the workers in Big Pharma and in China....and it was the unions who had a large say in how to address the 'virus' and set the ball in motion not to work etc because of Covid19..and they have been advised by the 'Scientists" who advise the Politicians..

[Sharon1014]

That's just the nature of business, imo.  @Helen427   Changed circumstances that are likely on-going for several years just require a major realignment of expenditure.  Any business owner (including we hosts who have staff) just have to operate that way or die. 

Courts are not an appropriate vehicle for accountability, that's just life in the world of business, especially for publicly listed companies.  They have to account to shareholders.

ABNB may well find itself in the same position, having to let more staff and contractors go.  ABNB will soon have shareholders to account to.  You can't make the pie bigger when there just aren't the ingredients available.  Sucks for the employees of course, but this is the nature of a pandemic.  You cut and survive, or you die.  Many hosts have already gone to the wall this last 6 months, and more are likely to come.

[Helen350]

Well analysed @Sharon1014 ! 

@Helen427 You're talking nonsense; of course people have to be laid off when business is slack, as Sharon rightly says. Qantas have done nothing wrong.

[Christine2786]

I want to start accepting booking in the UK from late Spring.  Can I insist that guests have received a vaccine as I don't wish to host any unvaccinated guests in my home?

[Marit-Anne0]

@Christine2786 how about guests asking hosts if they have been vaccinated ? It goes both ways I would think.

[Helen3]

No you can't @Christine2786.

In any case not everyone in the UK will have been offered a vaccination by the spring. 

[Bryan10]

@Christine2786   I think you can insist that guests have had the vaccine by adding it to your house rules. Guests have to agree to the house rules in order to confirm the booking. However I'm not sure how you could verify that they've really had the vaccine in practice, unless there's a certificate issued by the medical authority doing the jabs.

Perhaps people could take a selfie at the moment they're jabbed, and show you that? It sounds frivolous but we need to think through how it will work in practice. 

[Marit-Anne0]

@Bryan10 as far as I understand, a vaccination certificate is being discussed within EU, so UK will probably follow suit. 

But what about the other way around, should guests be able to ask hosts for proof of vaccinaton ? As long as hosts are vaccinated, an unvaccinated guest would not pose a threat to the host and following airbnb covid procedures, unvaccinated guests will not propose a threat to future guests.

Guests should themselves decide if they want to risk staying in a property shared with the host and/or with other guests.

[Helen3]

@Marit-Anne0  It's not true to say unvaccinated guests will not pose a threat - they will pose a threat to anyone in the community the listing is based in who haven't been vaccinated (not everyone can) 

Also we don't know yet whether those who have been vaccinated can still pass the virus on. 

[Dimitar27]

Covid vaccine will become mandatory one day, for sure. But not so soon. Maybe  after 2-3 years.

For some jobs, the list of mandatory vaccines is long anyway- receptionists, maids, waiters, cooks, part of the ground staff at the airports. The next big group: teachers, kindergarten staff, people who work with water supplies -pump stations, reservoirs,  water pipes, etc, food indusry workers in general, hairdressing and beauty saloons...They all must have health passport with more then 10 mandatory vaccines.

So...asking guests for this is completely wrong point of view. I should ask myself.  Because I am providing the service.