Covid 19 coronavirus: Disney to mandate employee vaccinations

The Walt Disney Company has joined other large companies in requiring employees to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

Jay Vojno gets the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine in New York. Photo / AP

The company said in a statement that it will be requiring all salaried and non-union hourly employees in the US who work on-site to be fully vaccinated. The statement said employees who aren't already vaccinated will have 60 days to do so and that those still working from home will need to show proof of vaccination before returning.

Disney said it was discussing the vaccine requirements with the union, and added that all new hires will be required to be fully vaccinated before starting work at the company.

"Vaccines are the best tool we all have to help control this global pandemic and protect our employees," the statement said.

The announcement comes days after the federal Centres for Disease Control changed course on masking guidelines, saying that agency had received new information showing the Delta variant's ability to spread among vaccinated people.

New cases and hospitalisations are soaring in Florida, which has again turned into the epicentre of the pandemic concentrating one-fifth of the country's new cases.

Cars line up at Miami Dade College North campus' Covid-19 testing site in Miami. Photo / AP

Disney announced earlier this week that guests at US theme parks would again be required to wear masks indoors.