Covid Vaccination Certificate Requirement

[David-And-Kevin0]

We closed our BnB cottage in March 2020 because of Covid. Yesterday we began accepting reservations for June 5 and beyond.

I thought we were being original. Our listing was updated with an opening statement that Covid Vaccination Certificates are required for every guest prior to them being given a key.  In addition to the Airbnb listing, we will include a statement with our response to their reservation request.

I soon discovered that we are not alone with that requirement.

Has anybody else done this? Has Airbnb made a statement about it. 

[David-And-Kevin0]

For many years, if people traveled internationally they contacted the local consulates of the countries that they would be visiting. The consulates would provide a list of vaccinations that were required to visit their country. The travelers would arrange with their personal doctor to get the vaccinations and the paperwork required before their trip began. The airlines would check the paperwork before permitting you to get on the plane - just like your passport. No big deal. No freedoms lost. Everybody's health was protected.

[Helen427]

Keywords @David-And-Kevin0  "Paperwork", the problems we are all going through is as a direct result of the Digital Age and loss of face to face human real communication.

Those questions should have been asked of people as they went to either shipping ports or airports instead of "Yes, go through" attitude that has crept into Society with the Digital Age and Fake Documentation.

As as aside, I see that in the USA they have finally prosecuted those associated with serious offences relating to the E-cigarette, Vaping industry which I've oft said is what COVID ties directly to.

A massive clean out is needed in Public Health.

[Toni4152]

@Warren177 I would be interested in your Austin listing, if and when you decide to reactivate it. My daughter and son-in-law live in Austin, and although we sometimes stay with them, at other times we rent a nearby AirBnB, depending on whether I am working during our trip, if my son-in-law is writing for sometime time-sensitive like the 14-48 theater festival, etc. I wish more hosts would list vaccination status and in all ways indicate whether they were 'mask free' type places or instead, taking the virus and its devastating toll seriously. 

[Warren177]

The contagiousness of the Delta variant and other factors (vaccination status among them) are going to prevent me from reactivating anytime soon. I am sure that other Austin hosts will have put safeguards in place, safeguards that I am unfortunately unable to provide. Good luck.

[Jude7]

I am a long time Superhost, but have had our property off the market since COVID first hit.  After riding all of the disappointments and upsets of a full summer of booked guests cancelling almost overnight, we're once again thinking of welcoming guests into our apartment, which is attached to our home.  Feeling the same as @David-And-Kevin0 , I came onto this forum to see what the policies were regarding asking for verification that guests have been vaccinated.  Still feeling cautious about contact with strangers, I'm willing to accept less reservations in exchange for knowing that guests have been vaccinated.  And yes - I read the comments that those cards can be forged, but just  like I have always read reviews before accepting a guest, I'm going to assume that those guests will glowing reviews would be unlikely to forge documents.  It's the best that I can do in an uncertain world.

My question is for those of you who are requiring, or thinking about requiring, guests to be vaccinated, are you asking to see an upload of an image of their vaccination card?  Or are you simply having them simply confirm that they are vaccinated?

I am clear that I wish to only rent to those who are vaccinated, but I'm feeling a bit squeamish about asking for visual proof of such, as it seems a bit intrusive, and I'm wondering how others are handling this delicate situation.

One favor?  There have been some strong political statements mentioned in this post.  Let's not get into an argument about the efficacy of vaccines vs no vaccines.  I am clear on my position.  All I want to know is how others who feel as I do are handling this situation.  

Peace,

Jude

[Susan1690]

Good post.  I hope corporate Air B&B pays attention to hosts need to be safe.  I have found requests have been honest and withdrawn the booking, but along with ID and credit cards I would like air B&B to add proof of vaccination to profiles. 

[Lisa723]

@Jude7 our house rules state that all guests must be vaccinated (unless medically exempt) and that we reserve the right to require proof. We reiterate in listing text and pre-booking messaging to review all house rules before booking, and remind again in post-booking messaging.

So far we have not asked for proof. Our hope is mainly that the rule will deter anti-vaxxers from booking.

[Jude7]

Thank you, Lisa, for that sane and useful information which was exactly the sort of dialogue I was looking to have. Perfect timing! I’m planning on relisting my space this weekend but wasn’t sure how I wanted to go about indicating my preference that guests who wish to stay with me must be vaccinated. 

I respect those hosts who don’t agree with me, and I respect those guests who don’t agree with me, but this is what I need to do to feel comfortable about my home. I like what you did, @Lisa723, putting it into your rules, putting it into your description, and reiterating it when you respond to the inquiry, because like others have said, I have learned that guests don’t read. I figure if I indicate it in all three places they’ll pick it up somewhere!

I also like your wording that you reserve the right to ask for proof, whether or not you actually do it. I usually establish a good relationship with guests before they arrive, and have a good sense of their character. I was feeling a bit squeamish about asking guests to send me proof, as it felt a bit invasive. But I think “reserving the right “will weed out those who will support my views from those who don’t. 

Everything you suggested, Lisa, feels comfortable to me. Thank you for taking the time to share!

Jude

[Michele511]

@Jude7  I am with you in that I establish a good relation with the guests before they arrive. It makes the whole thing that much more pleasant. I am hoping that @Airbnb will add it as a criteria that a host can click, one telling if the host has been vaccinated. I imagine there are just as many guests who want to know that the host has been, too. I have instant booking activated for those with positive reviews and many people come out right away and tell me they have been vaxxed. It’s. A relief for both.

I am going to give “feedback” to airbnb (when i find the link) to ask that they do just this. I think it’s a win-win for many people, hosts and guests alike. Wouldn’t you want to know if your host had been vaxxed before you booked?

Anyway, hope this reply helped.

[Jennifer2319]

Link to feedback: https://www.airbnb.com/help/feedback

[Susan1690]

I have just added a vaccine requirement but find many guests don’t read well.   Air B&B does not make this requirement posting easy.  

[Jennifer2682]

Just my two cents, but I will NOT be requiring guests to provide a Vaccination Certificate.  We need to be respectful of the fact that many folks are frightened of COVID... but in the same token, many people are frightened of the vaccine and I think it's only fair to be respectful of that too.  We should all be free to run our Airbnb businesses as we see fit.  I certainly would not appreciate Airbnb trying to "mandate" Vaccination Certificates and would probably leave the platform if they did so.  It's not that I think COVID is a hoax, but different people have different ideologies and anxieties.  (Personally, an alleric reaction to medication left me hospitalized for two days and last year I had a very frightening blood clot in my leg.  So, while I'll gladly mask up and distance socially, I'm actually terrified of the vaccination.)  Not trying to argue whether vaccinating is right or wrong, just saying that everyone is coming at it from different circumstances and we should try to be respectful of that.   

[David-And-Kevin0]

@Jennifer2682  @Jennifer2682   Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I am an extreme proponent of mandatory vaccinations of all kinds. Until Covid is no longer on the front page of newspapers, I do not want to knowingly have people who are unvaccinated for Covid in my neighborhood. I admit, I'm unconcerned about what I consider their unfounded fear of the vaccine. I'm confident that there are other vacation rentals that will accept them.

[Jennifer2682]

Thank you, though I do not consider my fear of the vaccine to be any more “unfounded” than your fear of COVID. I’m simply saying that as hosts we should always have the right to decide what works for us. Guests can choose accordingly. 

[Michele511]

True, so the guests and the hosts should have the option to require that they stay at a place where the hosts are vaxxed, just like the hosts should have the option to require that the guest is vaxxed.