Vaccine Passports

Last week, the Washington Post reported that “The Biden administration and private companies are working to develop a standard way of handling credentials — often referred to as ‘vaccine passports’ — that would allow Americans to prove they have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus as businesses try to reopen… One of the most significant hurdles facing federal officials: the sheer number of passport initiatives underway, with the Biden administration this month identifying at least 17.” (Washington Post)

On Tuesday White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated, “The government is not now, nor will we be supporting a system that requires Americans to carry a credential. There will be no federal vaccinations database and no federal mandate requiring everyone to obtain a single vaccination credential.” (Whitehouse.gov)

“Gov. Greg Abbott signed an executive order Tuesday to ban government-required ‘vaccine passports’ in Texas, following a similar decision from Florida last week.” (NBC News)

The right opposes vaccine passports, arguing that no one should be forced to take a vaccine in order to go about everyday life.

The left generally supports vaccine passports, but expresses concerns about privacy and healthcare equity.