Vaccine passports for clubs in England scrapped, says health secretary
Mandatory Covid vaccination status certification was set to come into force for these venues at the end of this month (September).
Prime Minister Boris Johnson first announced proof of a double Covid jab was set to be compulsory for clubgoers in a press conference in July.
However, in what appears to be a Government U-turn, Javid said on The Andrew Marr Show this morning (Sunday 12 September): “We’ve looked at it properly and while we should keep it in reserve as a potential option, I’m pleased to say we will not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports.”
Decision welcomed
The news has been welcomed by trade body the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA), which has criticised the plans to introduce vaccine passports.
The NTIA conducted a snap poll of more than 250 night-time businesses earlier this year (July) and found eight-in-10 would not be asking for proof of vaccination as they reopened for the first time since last March.
Chief executive Michael Kill said: “Following an intense political and public campaign by the NTIA, its members and wider industry supporters, we welcome the comments from the health secretary this morning regarding the Government's decision to scrap the planned mandate of Covid passports from the end of September."
Exemplary record
He added: "We hope that businesses will now be able to plan for the future with some degree of certainty, regain confidence from customers and the workforce and start to rebuild a sector that has consistently been at the sharp end of this pandemic.
"Our focus now is to ensure that the Chancellor's October budget allows us the financial space to rebuild and for the industry to maintain its exemplary record in support of the public health strategy keeping our staff and our customers safe."
The Prime Minister is set to outline the Government’s autumn and winter plan for managing Covid next week.
