Airbnb on Friday sent a letter to the Biden government offering help with the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine, especially in rural communities.
The vacation rental company offered to identify homes that could be used as vaccine distribution sites in communities with limited access to health facilities, as deployment efforts continued across the country.
“These Airbnb ‘vaccine depots’ may be available in places where there are few or no health services or pharmacies, so-called ‘health deserts’,” wrote Airbnb Senior Vice President, Global Policy and Communications, Christopher Lehane , in the letter.
In addition, the company offered homeworkers who travel to distribute vaccines if they need housing assistance.
The letter did not detail whether Airbnb’s “vaccine deposits” or houses used to house workers who distribute the vaccine would be offered free or at a discount.
A White House spokesman was not immediately available for comment in response to the Airbnb letter.
The offer follows Airbnb’s efforts launched last year under its Frontline Stays program to allow hosts to open their homes to frontline healthcare professionals in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The program allows healthcare professionals to stay in Airbnb locations closer to their work and away from their families in their own homes, free of charge or at a discount.
President Biden unveiled his government’s strategy for dealing with the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday. The plan aims to vaccinate 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of their term.
Amazon earlier this week sent a letter to Biden, on his first day in office, also offering to help the new administration with the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine. The e-commerce giant has offered to help, leveraging Amazon’s operations, information technology and communication resources
Amazon also asked the government once again to prioritize the company’s essential workers in storage facilities and data centers in the distribution of vaccines.