TSA screeners face vaccine deadline with up to 40% lacking shots

November 20, 2021

As many as 40% of U.S. airport security screeners haven’t been vaccinated for COVID-19 as an immunization deadline for federal employees and the busy holiday travel season converge. There are 271 active coronavirus cases among agency employees and more than 11,000 employees have been infecting during the pandemic. “I don’t think implementation of the mandate will have any effect on staffing whatsoever on Thanksgiving,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske told ABC’s “Good Morning America” today. We’re ready for this holiday travel season. That makes firings of TSA workers unlikely during the holiday period.