With the delta variant still wreaking havoc here and the sobering unknowns of the highly infectious omicron variant, forward-thinking action is vital to prevent more hospitalizations and death. A logical, lifesaving step: requiring COVID-19 vaccination for domestic air travel in the United States.

Doing so wouldn't just make the airline cabin safer for passengers. It also would help protect the people and destinations that travelers are visiting.

In addition, it would spur the unvaccinated to finally take this conscientious step. In a 2021 Kaiser Family Foundation survey, 40% of respondents reluctant to get the shots said they would be more likely to do so if airlines required vaccination or doing so would further ease travel. Currently, just 61% of Americans of all ages are considered fully vaccinated, according to the New York Times COVID tracker.

A measure that provides a powerful incentive for vaccine holdouts to act is clearly necessary. A domestic air travel vaccination requirement for all eligible to get the shots neatly fits the bill. With holiday travel approaching, it would likely move the needle quickly on U.S. immunization levels. That would be beneficial with omicron's troubling approach.

Canada already has put this sensible requirement in place, suggesting that it can be done with minimal disruption for airports and airlines. As of Oct. 30, vaccination became mandatory to board most flights and trains north of the border.

Asked why the Biden administration hadn't followed Canada's lead, a spokesman simply pointed to a Dec. 2 statement by White House press secretary Jen Psaki. She said at that time that "nothing is off the table," including domestic air travel vaccine requirements.

Requiring vaccination for all air travelers into and within the United States would help get delta under better control and put a brake on serious omicron infections. The time to act is now.