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The UK government does not plan to issue “vaccine passports” to people who have had a coronavirus puncture, Michael Gove said, just 24 hours after the newly appointed vaccine minister said he was analyzing the technology.
Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, said clients would not need to get vaccinated against Covid-19 to go to pubs, restaurants, theaters or sporting events.
When asked Tuesday morning if the government was considering introducing vaccine passports, he told Sky News: “No, that is not being planned.”
He added: “I certainly do not plan to introduce any vaccine passports and I don’t know anyone else in the government. [who is]. “
His comments come a day after Nadhim Zahawi, who was appointed on Saturday responsible for overseeing the launch of the jab, indicated that customers who had refused the vaccine could be denied entry to pubs.
Fast guide
Who in the UK will get the new Covid-19 vaccine first?
The UK government’s joint committee on vaccination and immunization has published a list of groups of people who will be given priority to receive a Covid-19 vaccine. The list is:
1 Everyone aged 80 and over and health and social assistance workers.
2 All those aged 75 or over.
3 All those 70 and over.
4 All those aged 65 or over.
5 Adults under 65 years of age at high risk of serious illness and mortality from Covid-19.
6 Adults under 65 years of age at moderate risk of severe illness and mortality from Covid-19.
7 All those 60 and over.
8 Everyone 55 years of age or older.
9 All those aged 50 or over.
10 Rest of the population.
He said that while the vaccine would not be mandatory, businesses such as pubs and restaurants could require proof that people have been vaccinated before allowing them entry.
The confusion came as Boris Johnson was quick to contain a conservative rebellion ahead of a vote on Covid’s national restraint system later Tuesday. The vote is expected to pass despite Labor refusing to vote with the government, although ministers expect a sizable number of Conservative MPs to vote against the motion.
When asked by the BBC on Monday if those who have been vaccinated would get an immunity passport, Zahawi said: “We are looking at the technology. And, of course, a way for people to inform their GP that they have been vaccinated. But, also, I think you will probably find that restaurants and bars and cinemas and other places, sports facilities, will probably also use that system, as they have done with the [test and trace] application “.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, told a Downing Street news conference Monday night: “For a long time we have been looking at the questions that Mr. Zahawi was talking about and the question of what is the impact on individual in terms of what they can do. “
Experts have raised concerns about such a system in relation to privacy, data protection and human rights. It has also caused unease among already restless Conservative MPs. Marcus Fysh, the Conservative MP from Yeovil, said he was “100% against this ignorant authoritarianism.”
However, Gove appeared to rule out any plans for such passports. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, that’s not the plan,” he also told BBC Breakfast. “What we want to do is make sure that we can implement vaccines effectively.”
He added: “Of course, individual companies have the ability to make decisions about who they will admit and why. But the most important thing we should do at this stage is to focus on making sure the vaccine is implemented. “
The prime minister will announce new one-time discretionary funds paid to councils for “wet” pubs and bars that cannot open under the strictest new-level restrictions for England, The Guardian understands.
Johnson and other cabinet ministers telephoned rebellious Conservative MPs on Monday, noting that the government had met many of the Covid Recovery Group’s demands from MPs skeptical of the lockdown, including reopening retail and outdoor sports and publishing impact evaluation.
Yet many remain concerned about the effect on hospitality in the run-up to Christmas, with nearly 99% of the country heading for levels 2 or 3 with strict restrictions on locations.
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