Fear vaccine passports may lead to inequalities

SIGNIFICANT proportions of the UK public have concerns about potential discrimination and surveillance issues surrounding vaccine passports, research suggests.

Around four in 10 adults believe unvaccinated people will be discriminated against, according to research from the University of Bristol and King’s College London.

Some 44% believe vaccine passports will be sold on the black market, according to the survey of 2,210 adults aged 18-75 in March.

A quarter of adults believe vaccine passports would reduce civil liberties, but half disagree.

And 22% believe vaccine passports will be used by the Government for surveillance, while 45% do not think this will happen.

People from ethnic minority backgrounds were more likely to think unvaccinated people will be discriminated against, and that vaccine passports will infringe civil liberties or be used for surveillance, the survey found.

A Government review into ‘Covid status certification’ said they could “potentially play a role” in settings such as theatres, nightclubs and mass events, and might also be used in pubs and restaurants to reduce social distancing restrictions.

The documents would record — either on a NHS app or a paper certificate — whether someone has had a vaccine, a recent negative coronavirus test or natural immunity having recovered from Covid-19.

The survey also identified “a great deal of uncertainty” around some claims about vaccine safety.

Half of respondents said they do not know if it is safe to get a jab while trying to conceive, while 19% disagreed that this would be safe.

And 34% said they are unsure whether a vaccine could make it harder to have children, with 9% agreeing.

The NHS says there is no evidence that the Covid-19 vaccine has any effect on chances of becoming pregnant, and there is no need to avoid pregnancy after vaccination.

Some 38% of respondents said they do not know if coronavirus vaccines contain pork products.

Neither of the Covid jabs available across the UK contain animal products.

Professor Bobby Duffy, director of the Policy Institute at King’s College London, said: “These results show that the Government needs to tread carefully on vaccine passports and certificates, as significant proportions of the public have concerns to be addressed, including on discrimination, surveillance and fraud.”