The government’s review of vaccine certification could lead to a ban on demands for proof of immunity in certain circumstances, prime minister Boris Johnson has indicated.
Mr Johnson announced that senior cabinet colleague Michael Gove will lead the review, due to report before 21 June, to look at the possibility of issuing “vaccine passports” to prove immunity for entry to workplaces, pubs and mass attendance events as well as travel abroad.
But he said that complex ethical issues must be considered before making a decision on “mandating people to have such a thing, or indeed banning people from doing such a thing”.
Speaking during a visit to a school in south London, the PM said he was “optimistic” that England will hit the target of 21 June set out in his roadmap on Monday for lifting almost all coronavirus restrictions, though he cautioned that “nothing can be guaranteed”.
He said that the massive programme of vaccinations, which has seen almost 18m people receive their first dose since December, had made “all the difference” in raising hopes of a return to normal life.
Over the past few months, ministers have repeatedly insisted that the government will not be issuing vaccine passports, in the face of proposals from some employers for “no jab, no job” rules for their staff. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi warned that any such requirements could be “discriminatory”.
But Mr Johnson announced on Monday that a review will be conducted into “whether Covid-status certification could play a role in reopening our economy, reducing restrictions on social contact and improving safety”.
The move fuelled expectations that vaccine passports are on their way in the form of electronic certification on a smartphone app or documents to be carried in holders’ wallets and purses.
Mr Johnson said today that there was no doubt – regardless of the UK’s decisions – that some countries will in future demand proof of immunity from travellers from the UK, similar to certificates currently issued with vaccines for diseases like yellow fever. “It’s going to come on the international stage, whatever,” he said.
But he said domestic use of vaccine passports would need to be done in a way which did not discriminate against those who have not received the jab.
“We’re looking at a novelty for our country,” said the PM. “We haven’t had stuff like this before. We’ve never thought in terms of having something that you have to show to go to a pub or a theatre.
“There are deep and complex issues that we need to explore – ethical issues about what the role is for government in mandating people to have such a thing, or indeed banning people from doing such a thing.
“There are complex issues we need to work out.
“We can’t be discriminatory against people who, for whatever reason, can’t have a vaccine. There might be medical reasons why people can’t have a vaccine, some people may genuinely refuse to have one – now, I think that’s a mistake, I think everybody should have a vaccine.
“We need to thrash all this out. And we’ve got time, because what we’re doing is rolling out the vaccination programme. And that will go on for the next couple of months.
“In the interval, what I want to see is a proper review into the issue and that’s going to be led by by Michael Gove, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.”
Mr Johnson said Mr Gove would be getting “the best scientific, moral, philosophical, ethical” advice before making his recommendations.
