Netflix ‘introduces mandatory Covid vaccinations’ for actors and crew in the US

The studio is the first to introduce the mandatory rule (Picture: Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Netflix has become the first major studio to introduce mandatory Covid vaccinations for actors and key crew members working on productions in the US.

As Deadline reports, the streaming giant now requires everyone working in ‘zone A’ to be jabbed, which includes performers and people who come into close proximity with them.  

Cases of the Delta variant are on the rise in the US, with the nation currently experiencing a fourth wave of infections.

Hollywood unions and studios gave bosses ‘the option to implement mandatory vaccination policies for casts and crew in Zone A on a production-by-production basis’ last week. 

It’s also alleged that Netflix is looking to keep exceptions to the new rule very rare, only occasionally making allowances on grounds of medical, religious or age reasons for shows and films already in the works.

While Netflix is the first studio to implement the policy, individual productions have already made the step. 

Stranger Things is one of the major Netflix shows in production (Picture: Netflix)

Starz/UCP series Gaslit has made it mandatory for stars and crew to be vaccinated. It was previously reported that Sean Penn has refused to return to work on the project until everyone had received the jab.

Major shows such as Stranger Things’ fourth season are currently in production at Netflix in the US. 

However, a rise in cases have already caused havoc for the streaming platform, with filming being stalled as a result. Production on season two of Bridgerton was reportedly shut down for the second time in a week due to a positive Covid-19 test earlier this month.

More: Netflix

The romantic period drama began filming in locations across the UK in May, but suffered a setback when a crew member tested positive for Covid, resulting in production being halted for 24 hours.

It was reported that Netflix has ‘paused production for an indefinite period of time’ following a positive test being returned.

Metro.co.uk has reached out to Netflix for comment.

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