Government to launch review into vaccine passports for entry into pubs
If the review is signed off on Covid status certificates, it could mean pubs could prevent customers for entry if they are unable to give evidence they have received the vaccine or tested negative for the virus.
In the House of Commons on Monday (22 February), Johnson said: “The third review will consider the potential role of Covid status certification in helping venues to open safely.
“We are mindful of the many concerns surrounding the exclusion, discrimination and privacy. There may well be a role of certification but we just need to get it right.”
The four reviews include looking at current social distancing measures alongside how to increase international travel and large events.
Deep and complex issues
Speaking on Tuesday (23 February), Johnson said it was an area that was a novelty for the country, never having to deal with something like this before.
He added: “We’ve never thought in terms of having something you have to show to go to a pub or theatre.
“So there are deep and complex issues 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 the vaccine – there might be medical reasons why people can’t have the vaccine or some people may genuinely refuse to have one.
“Now I think that’s a mistake, I think everybody should have a vaccine but we need to thrash this all out.”
Previous reports
Sky News reported Johnson said Cabinet minister Michael Gove will conduct the review into using Covid certification and is set to report back before stage four of restrictions lifting in June.
In December, on Sky News, Gove was asked if customers would need to have a vaccine passport in order to go to the pub, to which he replied: “No.”
He was then asked if customers would need to [in the future], where he also replied: “No.”
