From an October 31, 2021, Sinclair Broadcast Group national segment

KRISTINE FRAZAO (SINCLAIR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT): For many passengers, it’s here we go again. This time, American Airlines canceling 1,500 flights since Friday, blaming weather and staffing. 

(VIDEO BEGINS)

CHRIS DELONG (FREEDOM FLYERS): There are issues with the mandate and with people's health and mental well-being, and their readiness to work, which, before you fly anywhere, have to sign a consent that you’re fit for duty.

(VIDEO ENDS)

FRAZAO: Chris DeLong is with U.S. Freedom Flyers, a group of transportation employees who oppose the vaccine mandate. He warns air travel may not only become more stressful, it could also become unsafe. 

(VIDEO BEGINS)

DELONG: Anxiety is high, there’s a lot of sleepless nights, there’s a lot of angst at work, there’s a lot of fatigue. The email that I personally received said, regarding the vaccine mandate, “To be clear, if you fail to comply with the requirement, the result will be termination from the company.”

(VIDEO ENDS)

FRAZAO: Big problems predicted in the Big Apple as well, with just one week before the New York City marathon, and following large protests by firefighters and other city workers warning of a crisis Monday morning, with 26 firehouses expected to be unstaffed. 

(VIDEO BEGINS)

ANDREW ANDBRO (FDNY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT): When you close firehouses, you affect response times, and you affect the time it takes to get people what they need. And that is us to help save their lives. 

(VIDEO ENDS)

FRAZAO: But New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also suggested the mandate is working, tweeting Saturday, “91% of city workers are now vaccinated.” Nationwide, COVID-19 cases are down 60%, hospitalizations down 50% from the recent peak in September. 

And with those numbers moving in the right direction, some business leaders are now asking the Biden administration for a little more time. Instead of that December 8 deadline for workers to be vaccinated, they're asking to push it back at least until sometime early next year. 

(VIDEO BEGINS)

MARGARET BRENNAN (CBS’ FACE THE NATION ANCHOR): How soon do you need to push this off until after Christmas? 

GINA RAIMONDO (SECRETARY OF COMMERCE): No, I think that would be a big mistake. People want to work in a workplace where they feel safe. 

(VIDEO ENDS)

FRAZAO: Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo pointing to United Airlines, where the vaccine mandate deadline already passed, and what she says, is seeing a massive surge in people applying to work there. Elevated concerns as the busy season draws closer, and new warnings for the safety of Americans are already here.