Vaccine passport venue list may be expanded in revived scheme

THE prospect of vaccine passports being used at indoor and outdoor venues in England this winter has been raised again by the Government.

Plans seemed to have been put on the back burner but last night the Government launched a consultation, asking the public for views on their use this autumn and winter if Covid cases threaten to overwhelm the NHS.

The Plan B proposals also open the door to the number of venues being widened beyond nightclubs, music venues, outdoor festivals, concerts and sports events.

The consultation asks whether the public thinks the list of settings is too narrow, raising the prospect that other entertainment venues where people mingle and mix could be included.

They will face fierce criticism from Tory MPS who have claimed they are “totally unacceptable”, discriminatory and a route to a “two-tier society”.

But ministers last night insisted the Government needed to be prepared to “act swiftly” and adopt measures such as vaccine passports “at short notice” if there were “unsustainable pressures” on the NHS as a result of the pandemic.

Maggie Throup, the health minister, said: “While we are totally confident the careful steps we are taking will help rule out the need for mandatory vaccine certificates, we need to be prepared for all scenarios.

“We know these kinds of contingency plans will only work if businesses and the public get to have their say and I’m urging everyone who could have to use certification: give us your views, give us your ideas.”

Industry figures and the public have been given until Oct 11 to respond to the planned vaccine passports which would be mandatory for all adults over 18 attending the prescribed venues and will require legislation.

Under the plan, only double-vaccinated people would be certified by the passports. Negative tests and proof of natural immunity after recovering from the virus would no longer be permitted.

Nightclubs and other venues open after 1am with alcohol, music and dancing would be included, as well as indoor events such as music concerts or large receptions with 500 or more people.

Vaccine passports would also be required at crowded outdoor events, such as festivals, with 4,000 or more people and large sports and music events where there are 10,000 or more fans.

‘We know these kinds of contingency plans will only work if businesses and the public get to have their say’