♪ this is "nightline." >> tonight, corporate mandate. businesses get tough on the vaccine hesitant. the shot or your job. >> in general, if there were no social media, i think i would have been quicker to just go in and get vaccinated. >> is this the way to get the country back on track? >> we wanted to make sure that all of our ploy it's, when they show up to work, it would make that environment as safe as possible. >> a small but vocal few disagree. plus paradise rebound. one of the most popular and picturesque destinations in the world getting an unexpected covid benefit. nature is thriving. but those dependant on the tourists feeling the pain of the pandemic. and the united moment on the

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extensive clinical trials, more than 65% of americans have at least one shot. so how will the holdouts respond when it comes down to a shot or your job? here's abc's transportation correspondent 80 ogio benitez. >> reporter: margaret applegate has been an employee with united airlines for almost three decades. throughout the pandemic, the customer service representative says she was proud of the way the airline dealt with the deadly disease. >> i felt that united was doing a great job, and our airplanes were so clean, and people looked like they were very confident about flying. >> reporter: still, when the covid vaccine became available, she says she was reluctant to get it. >> there was one side that was very scary with all the side effects that i was hearing from some friends and relatives. in general, if there were no social media, i think i would have been quicker to just go in

and get vaccinated. >> you actually say that social media is what made you more hesitant?p>> correct. because social media can be a very good thing, but it can steer you towards more negative ideas. >> reporter: but when the airline announced a vaccine mandate in july, she found herself at a crossroads and turned to lori, a supervisor, for advice. what was that conversation like? >> i started mentioning to her, she retire? should i get the vaccine? i was very torn. i started to realize that the world is changing. and we are going to be closing our own doors if we are unvaccinated. >> reporter: united was one of the first companies to mandate the vaccine. since then, businesses like tyson, disney, and mcdonald's have all joined the ranks, telling their employees to either get vaccinated or get a new job. while leaving room for medical or religious exemptions. >> we wanted to make sure that all of our employees when they

show up to work, it would make that environment as safe as possible. >> what was that moment like once you did get vaccinated? what were you thinking then? >> relief. as my daughter told me, she said, mom, she says, i'm a scientist. i'm in a community of scientists. she says, you have nothing to fear. >> reporter: applegate is one of the 67,000 employees, 99% of the company, who are now vaccinated at united airlines. many experts say these company mandates are an essential step needed to motivate americans who still may be on the fence about getting the shot. >> the federal government has significant limits on how vaccines can be mandated in the workplace. this is where private enterprise is stepping in, both by encouragement from public health, but also for reasons that are in the company's best interests. >> reporter: the federal government issued its own set of mandates last month. >> we must increase vaccinations

among the unvaccinated with new vaccination requirements. >> reporter: the biden administration announcing a series of executive orders requiring all federal employees and contractors to be vaccinated and tasking companies with more than 100 employees to mandate vaccinations or require weekly testing. >> we're going to reduce the spread of covid-19 by increasing the share of the workforce that is vaccinated in businesses all across america. >> we've tried so many things to get people vaccinated in this country. from education, to adding on incentives such as time off work, extra vacation time, money. we've tried all these things. and to an extent, they've worked, but not nearly as well as we need them to work to have a protected society. >> reporter: some states have taken it a step further, expanding the mandate beyond employees. in california, governor newsom issued orders requiring all public school employees and

children over 12 years old to be vaccinated for covid for in-person instruction once the fda approves them. likely next school year. just as they do for measles, mumps, rubella, and other viruses. >> i am grateful, yes, because i would hate for one of my babies to come home with it. >> i happen to know a couple of teachers that are battling cancer right now that are in chemotherapy. they need to be protected. >> reporter: in los angeles, a sweeping new public health measure will go into effect next month. customers must now show proof of vaccination or a negative covid test at indoor restaurants, gyms, shopping malls, nail salons, and movie theaters. hairstylist fred hertz knows he may lose customers but he sees the new rules as a way out of the pandemic. >> i've been hoping kind of for this to happen. because this needs to stop. it's getting out of control. >> reporter: in new york city, all public school employees are now required to be vaccinated,

while statewide, it's all health care workers. the governor promising to deploy the national guard if a shortage of workers arises. >> i will be signing an executive order to give me the emergency powers necessary to address the shortages where they occur. >> reporter: so far, the extra workers have been unnecessary. the scientific community agrees that covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective, with the cdc saying that long-term side effects are uncommon. but across the country and the world, from the united kingdom to israel and greece, some are protesting in the streets for what they call a violation of their individual rights. here at home, some workers are choosing to give up their jobs rather than get vaccinated, like registered nurse adair allen in indianapolis. she knows the dangers of covid

firsthand, having worked on the front lines during the peak of the pandemic. >> everyone is extremely stressed. i would come home, i would be upset that i would bring it to my daughter, potentially, or my husband. and i knew i was essential and it was my duty to go to work. >> reporter: during this time, more heartbreak. when allen suffered a miscarriage. >> i went back two days after i had the loss. i felt like i just couldn't sit at home and not go to work and dwell on it and be upset, when patients needed me too. so i went back to work very soon after. and six months later, i got pregnant again. >> reporter: she says this pregnancy was deemed high risk, in part due to blood clotting issues. she chose not to get a covid-19 vaccine, against the advice of her doctor. >> personally, there's just not a long-term study for me to feel comfortable. for me to take a vaccine that hasn't been around for a year makes me pretty nervous. >> reporter: allen's decision to

not get vaccinated has cost the nurse her job. >> i filed a medical exemption due to my high-risk pregnancy, and i was denied. it was just a personal statement that i was to write. it was not a physician-signed medical chart. so my last day was september 20th. i was told i was not allowed to come back. >> reporter: askenazi health where she worked said their mandate to vaccinate was a critical step in protecting their workforce, patients, and community, adding countless medical organizations have confirmed the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine. they said that less than 1% of their total workforce has left the organization after the mandate. >> to me, the mandate is just confusing now. because we're testing these workers who are getting exemptions, weekly, to make sure they're not bringing covid in because they're unvaccinated. but why aren't we testing everybody? >> reporter: experts note

vaccines and pregnancy have been studied for decades and there is no evidence that covid-19 vaccines are harmful to pregnant women or the fetus. >> there's something about being pregnant with the virus that causes covid, it carries a much worse prognosis for mom if she gets it. there's a substantial risk for mom. there's also a substantial risk for the baby if mom gets covid. >> reporter: while covid-19 infections and deaths are thankfully decreasing, officials say the best way to get this virus under control is for more people to make the same decision that margaret applegate did. >> most of the companies that mandate the vaccination have found the vast majority of their employees have complied. we're seeing that in not just one industry, in multiple industries. >> how do you feel about united's vaccine mandate now? >> i've been told by customers it's very nice to know everybody

they come in contact with is vaccinated. that is a nice feeling. >> our thanks to gio. up next, nature returns to one of the most popular tourist destinations on earth. my hygienist cleans with a round head. so does my oral-b my hygienist personalizes my cleaning. so does my oral-b oral-b delivers the wow of a professional clean feel every day. people everywhere living with type 2 diabetes

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most popular tourist destinations in the world. the island of phuket is home to white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, iconic long tail boats, and a bustling night life. but the covid-19 pandemic has turned this idyllic paradise into a ghost tunown. phuket is usually bustling with tourists from around the world. when they stopped coming almost overnight, it immensely impacted the people who work here. while that policies serious risks for the local economy, the surrounding environment has sprung back to life. >> you loved your job as a tour operator? >> yes, i like to work, yes. >> reporter: jenny sold tours to visitors, but now that traffic has slowed, she's left selling coconut desserts from her food cart. >> i'm crying because i know i -- no money to eat, to keep daughter, to go to school.

then i think too much. every night i think and i cry because i want to work. but cannot do anything. >> reporter: and she's not the only one. >> reporter: tourism accounts for about one-fifth of the overall economy. foreign tourist arrivals fell by more than 80% in 2020. in a bid to revive the resort island, the government started the phuket sandbox initiative in july, allowing vaccinated international tourists to enter without quarantine. >> i chose phuket to change my mood. >> reporter: officials hope precautions like daily temperature checks, multiple tests, and social distancing measures will contain the virus

and reassure travelers. the pilot program has led to tourists trickling back in, but nowhere near the numbers seen before the pandemic began. this is the director of the office of natural resources and environment for the island and he says conditions have improved during the last year and a half. but the irony is, before the pandemic, officials wanted to curb the endless stream of tourists. but now covid-19 has made the job a lot easier.

>> reporter: in 2018, the government blocked tourists from visiting the extremely popular nya bay. it was the picturesque setting for the leonardo dicaprio cult classic "the beach." and was almost destroyed due to scattered boat anchors, litter, and unsustainable pollution. so we wanted to see what happens to an ecosystem when modern life dramatically slows down, allowing mother nature to take charge. one of those delicate areas is the coral reefs, the beating heart of our oceans, threatened by unabated tourism. there's a combination of natural reefs and artificial reefs here, structures underneath the water to attract new bits of coral. and since covid started, it's had time to recover without the boats and the tourists here. seems to be working.

>> reporter: our journey took us to the mangroves which act as a coastal defense barrier against natural disasters such as storms, tsunamis, and rising sea levels. chanyan, a mangrove ecosystem expert, knows the importance of what this vast natural coastal defense does for the environment.

>> what have you noticed over the last one and a half years? >> locals are noticing an abundance of fish since the pandemic started, and it's having an effect all the way up the food chain. with the beach all to themselves, sea turtles, too, are making their way back in high numbers. these rare leatherback turtles hatching in droves on beaches normally occupied by sunbathers. they haven't returned here to lay eggs in years.

safeguarding the turtles is a big deal for biologists. they want to fly, this one. >> this one, about 8 months. >> 8 months old, he's stretching his wings. i might put him back and let him rest. in thai folklore, turtles represent hard work and prosperity, something workers desperately need. enjoying the allure here is easy, but striking that balance may prove to be more elusive. britt clennett, abc news, phuket. >> thanks to britt. up next, the show of solidarity on the field of play. plaque psoriasis, the burning, itching. the pain. with tremfya®, adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis...

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♪ finally tonight, a moment of silent solidarity. >> both teams are coming out from the benches. >> players stopped national women's soccer league games

tonight at the 6th minute, locking arms in unity with the former players who came forwa p sexual harassment and misconduct. the coach, fired last week. the 6th minute of solidarity, because the accusations go back six years. the coach, ritchie burke, denies any wrongdoing. that's "nightline." you can watch all of our full episodes on hulu. we'll see you right back here same time tomorrow. thanks for staying up with us. good night, america.