'Question of discrimination': WHO dismisses Covid passports, as governments consider them to reopen travel

RT
Tue, 06 Apr 2021 13:41 UTC

© REUTERS / Denis Balibouse

The World Health Organization (WHO) has rejected the use of Covid passports over fairness concerns and fears they would not prevent the spread of the virus, as experts worry vaccinated people could still transmit the disease.

Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris ruled out supporting the use of Covid passports due to "the question of discrimination" and because they "are not certain at this stage that the vaccine prevents transmission."

"WHO are saying at this stage we would not like to see the vaccination passport as a requirement for entry or exit."

There has been some opposition to the use of Covid passports until everyone has been offered a vaccine, due to the belief it would discriminate against citizens domestically and internationally who, through no fault of their own, have been prevented from getting inoculated.

A number of governments are currently considering introducing Covid passports to fully reopen their economy, as well as looking at whether they can be used to allow inoculated tourists to avoid having to quarantine.

While the details are still being ironed out, Covid passports are expected to show whether an individual has been vaccinated, recently tested negative, or had coronavirus in the past six months, which would give them some protection against the disease. This would allow domestic facilities and border agents to quickly know if an individual is safe to enter a building or cross the border.

Comment: Interestingly, in the UK both parties seem to be in agreement on this issue:

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a significant defeat in the House of Commons after the Labour Party warned it will join Conservative Party rebels to oppose "discriminatory" plans to introduce Covid vaccine passports.

The UK government is facing mounting opposition from backbench MPs and members of the Labour Party over plans to use Covid vaccine passports to fully reopen the country's economy. On Monday, Boris Johnson refused to deny reports that the measure was set to be introduced and, a day later, Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi confirmed the plans are being considered.

Labour leader Keir Starmer and Shadow Health Secretary Jon Ashworth have come out in opposition to the measure, a break from the party's previous policy of supporting the government's Covid restrictions. Speaking on Tuesday, Ashworth stated he's"not going to support"the policy, calling it discriminatory and suggesting that requiring individuals to carry an ID card showing their vaccination status is not fair.

Up to 70 Conservative MPs could rebel against the government in a vote on vaccine passports, with 41 having openly declared their opposition to the measure. The Liberal Democrats, which have 11 MPs, also vowed to block the proposal, stating that it would be wrong to be"separating society into haves and have-nots."

Among the plans being considered:

The UK government has refused to rule out a mandate requiring Brits to show a Covid-19 vaccine passport upon entering a clothing store.

In a Monday report on what it calls "Covid status certificates", the government said vaccine passports - which would show whether a person has been vaccinated, recently tested, or has antibodies from previous exposure - "should never be required" for "essential public services" like supermarkets and public transport, but made no mention of 'non-essential' services like clothes shops.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's spokesperson also refused to rule out vaccine passports for clothes shoppers, telling reporters that passports "will not be required" for essential services, but failing to comment on non-essential retail.

Opposition to vaccine passports appears to be mounting in the US as well:

Ron Paul has warned that Covid-19 vaccine passports could be used by the US government to restrict freedoms, stirring up an already heated debate over whether such IDs are necessary.

The former US congressman and physician said on Monday that requiring certificates to verify vaccination for international travel or daily activities would "solidify the whole idea that our lives belong to the government."

"They own liberty and now you are going to get permission to use a little bit of it. They are going to divvy it out a little bit. You'll never get back what you should have," he said while speaking on his program, the Ron Paul Liberty Report.

The Biden administration has acknowledged that it is collaborating with tech companies to develop a variety of potential vaccine passport apps. At the state level, New York has already created its own digital certificate that grants entry to venues.

Paul warned that the initiative could be used to regulate nearly all aspects of life, including where you will be allowed to go and what kind of activities you will be permitted to participate in. He said he hoped Americans would "finally wake up" and oppose vaccine IDs. If people don't "take a stand" now things are going to get "bad," the former Texas lawmaker predicted.

He called on his supporters to reach out to family and friends in order to start a grassroots movement against identification programs, adding that those who choose to do so should understand "what life and liberty is."

The message resonated with many. Some commenters echoed Paul's fears that the initiative could be used to usher in a dystopian nightmare.

Others said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' pledge to ban the use of vaccine passports should be emulated nationwide and expressed hope that the Supreme Court will ultimately rule the IDs unconstitutional.