Netflix has become the first major Hollywood film studio to make vaccinations mandatory for all actors involved in its film productions in the US. The vaccination requirement applies to the entire "A" zone and includes actors as well as production team members in contact with them, such as makeup artists. A similar regulation is also to apply to productions in the UK - whether it will also be introduced for Netflix productions in other countries is not yet clear.
Netflix was encouraged to take the step after the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, representing producers, reached an agreement with Hollywood&s largest unions on new health standards in light of recent developments. These allow companies to impose mandatory vaccinations for key cast and crew members on individual film productions. Exceptions are allowed for religious, medical or age reasons. The new regulations were prompted by the resurgence of COVID19 cases in many countries due to the aggressive new Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Well-known actor Sean Penn wants even broader action, calling for the new policy to be extended to all members of the production, not just those classified as "Zone A." He even threatened not to return to production on the NBC Universal series Gaslit until all cast and crew members had received a COVID19 vaccination.