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The British will not need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to go to the pub, theater or sports stadium in the future, promised a high-ranking minister.
Michael Gove dismissed the suggestion and insisted there were no plans to introduce any form of special identification for jab recipients.
“I’m certainly not planning to introduce vaccine passports, and I don’t know anyone else in the government who is,” he told Sky News.
The minister said no passports were planned to restrict who can go to the pub
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The possibility was discussed by the new vaccine minister, Nadhim Zahawi, on Monday.
He revealed that the government was studying the possibility of issuing “immunity passports” and suggested that companies such as bars and cinemas “will probably use that system as well.”
But the move sparked anger: Conservative MP Marcus Fysh called it “ignorant authoritarianism” and civil liberties group Big Brother Watch warned against “health apartheid.”
In an attempt to ease concerns, Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove insisted there was no plan to force people to get vaccinated if they wanted to visit some places.
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When asked if it was a possibility, she told Kay Burley: “No. I think the most important thing is to make sure we vaccinate as many people as possible.
“There are three vaccines that are being properly tested right now to make sure they are absolutely safe and the most important thing is to make sure we get as many people as possible, starting with the most vulnerable and then those working on the front lines of the world. NHS – effectively vaccinated “.
He said there were a significant number of conspiracy theorists, admitting “that’s a huge challenge because we have to persuade people who oppose taking a vaccine that it is in our collective interest.”
It is estimated that to achieve herd immunity, between 50 and 80% of the population needs to receive a needle stick, depending on the effectiveness of the vaccine.
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“I think we can take some of the arguments of the anti-vax squad, they are not really based on science,” Gove added.
“There is a very rigorous process that we go through to make sure vaccines are safe.”
Gove also downplayed the possibility of another national shutdown in 2021, following concerns from scientists that relaxing the Christmas rules will lead to growth in coronavirus cases.
“I’m as sure as I can be sure that we won’t need one,” he said.
