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Australia: Airbnb has suspended one of its ‘Superhosts’ in the southeast Australian state of Victoria for refusing to rent to a couple who had received the Covid-19 vaccine.
The incident began when Steve Carey attempted to book a holiday via the home-sharing platform in Victoria, prior to the latest Melbourne outbreak, for him and his partner. When Carey attempted to book a rental, the host reached out to enquire if he and his guest were vaccinated, and he responded that they had both received their first dose of the vaccine.
In response, the host said that she could not allow the couple, or any other vaccinated person, to rent her space due to the false, and unproven, belief that the vaccine can spread the virus to unvaccinated people. The idea that the vaccine spreads the virus has been proven false, as the vaccine does not have a live element.
The host’s reply to Carey read: “I’m not accepting any vaccinated people due to reports of adverse reactions. It’s also transmitting to unvaccinated people and causing them to become unwell.
“I’m afraid it’s way too experimental at this stage and I need to protect my other guests. I’m so sorry for any inconvenience,” she added.
This rejection is not the first case of an Australian business turning away vaccinated people, as some businesses across the country have posted signs preventing vaccinated people from entering.
Carey reported the incident with the host to Airbnb’s leadership, but, at first, support team members asserted that nothing in the company’s protocols prevented the host from refusing to rent to vaccinated people.
However, when the Guardian Australia reached out to Airbnb, representatives said that the company had investigated the incident and suspended the host, who declined to comment.
Derek Nolan, Airbnb’s head of public policy for Australia, said: “Having completed our investigation of this matter, we have suspended the listing in question. It’s important that everyone closely follows official health guidance from local authorities as we all continue to do our part to combat Covid-19.”
Carey was able to find another rental property and is reportedly satisfied that action was taken by Airbnb, although disappointed that it only came after a media inquiry. He said that he hopes the company will provide clearer instructions in the future.
He said: “My complaint was never with the Airbnb host, who correctly believed that she was acting within the guidelines, or lack of them, provided by Airbnb. Now that Airbnb has clarified things, she can decide for herself whether she wants to adhere to them.”
