Johnson admits vaccine passports are under consideration to help venues open safely again
THERE will be a review into whether vaccine passports could be deployed as part of the road map for releasing the lockdown, the Prime Minister has confirmed.
Boris Johnson said the Government wanted to determine whether offering “Covid status certificates” could help venues to open again.
Senior ministers have frequently appeared to dismiss the idea of introducing vaccine passports in the UK.
Nadhim Zahawi, the Government’s vaccines minister, labelled them “discriminatory” as ministers looked to persuade the public to take up the offer of a jab without the threat of being barred from entering hospitality or other venues if they do not get inoculated against Covid-19.
But the Prime Minister yesterday confirmed that a study into the use of vaccine and testing certificates will be one of four reviews conducted as part of easing the current restrictions.
Outlining each review in the House of Commons, Mr Johnson said: “The third review will consider potential role of Covid status certification in helping venues to open safely.
“We are mindful of the many concerns surrounding the exclusion, discrimination and privacy.”
Speaking later at a Downing Street press conference, he acknowledged there were ethical issues around vaccine certificates.
He said: “There are clearly some quite complex issues, some ethical issues, issues about discrimination and so on, to what extent can governments either compel or indeed forbid use of such certification. I think all that needs to be gone into so we are going to have a review of the whole issue before we come to it.”
But he added: “There may well be a role for certification but we just need to get it right.”
The four reviews, which will include looking at the current social distancing measures and how to increase international travel, are investigating matters upon which ministers do not cur
rently feel they have enough data or information.
The findings of the vaccine passport probe are hoped to be available before stage four of the lockdown easing on June 21 is reached — the earliest date by which ministers hope all restrictions can be lifted.
If the review signs off on the use of Covid status certificates, it could mean venues or businesses could deny someone access if they cannot provide evidence that they have been vaccinated against or tested negative for coronavirus.
Campaign group Liberty warned that vaccine passports could create a “two-tier society”.
Head of policy and campaigns Sam Grant said: “Ministers have flip-flopped on the idea of immunity passports for months before quickly backing out again when faced with immense backlash.”