Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, says it has become the first airline in the world with all its operating pilots and cabin crew vaccinated to help curb the spread of COVID-19 and give passengers who travel with the airline additional peace of mind.
This achievement was made possible through Etihad’s “Protected Together” employee vaccination initiative, which was formally launched in January this year. Building on the U.A.E.’s “Choose to Vaccinate” campaign, “Protected Together” is about helping staff take proactive, personal steps towards protecting themselves against COVID-19.
In 2020, Etihad took significant steps towards supporting employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. In collaboration with the health authorities, the airline facilitated access for its frontline staff to the U.A.E.’s emergency-use program. Etihad was one of the first employers in the capital to secure places for their frontline staff—including pilots and cabin crew—in Abu Dhabi’s vaccination program. Etihad also ensured the Etihad Airways Medical Centre became an accredited COVID-19 vaccination clinic.
Beyond Etihad’s employees, their dependents were also able to be vaccinated through the Etihad Airways Medical Centre.
To help further grow employee confidence, the “Protected Together” initiative includes virtual talks to connect staff with leading medical professionals and mobile clinics, so employees can receive the vaccine at work, and staff are provided access to simple and clear vaccine information. Following the U.A.E.’s target to vaccinate half of its population by the end of March 2021, Etihad is ahead of schedule with over 75 percent of its entire workforce already having received at least one dose of the vaccine.
Good to know: In January, Etihad was awarded Diamond status for ensuring the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitization in the inaugural APEX Health Safety, powered by SimpliFlying audit.
Visit www.etihad.com.
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