UK vaccine minister talks up ‘immunity passports’ for entry to bars, cinemas, sports venues
Nadhim Zahawi, recently appointed minister in charge of COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the United Kingdom, claims that inoculations will not be obligatory, but will likely be required to enter bars or restaurants, cinemas and sporting venues.
Essentially, this means that the public will be coerced into getting a vaccine in order to resume normal life, or face being excluded from what should be basic rights.
“I think it is right that [the vaccine] is voluntary,” Zahawi told the BBC.
“People have to be allowed to decide for themselves whether they want to be vaccinated or otherwise.
“But I think the very strong message that you will see, this is the way we return the whole country, and so it’s good for your family, it’s good for your community, it’s good for your country to be vaccinated.
“And ultimately, people will have to make a decision.”
Zahawi also talked up digital immunity passports which would hold a record of whether someone has been vaccinated.
“We are looking at the technology,” he stated. “And, of course, [it is] a way of people being able to inform their GP that they have been vaccinated.
“But, also, I think you’ll probably find that restaurants and bars and cinemas and other venues, sports venues, will probably also use that system – as they have done with the app.
“I think that in many ways, the pressure will come from both ways, from service providers who’ll say, ‘Look, demonstrate to us that you have been vaccinated’.
“But, also, we will make the technology as easy and accessible as possible.”
Asked whether this would severely restrict the lives of those who do not want to receive the vaccine, Zahawi side-stepped the question and continued to promote the notion that people would be coerced into getting a jab by service providers.
“I think people have to make a decision, but I think you’ll probably find many service providers will want to engage with this in the way they did with the app.
“The health and social care workers, care home residents, then, obviously, starting with the over-80s and then moving down the age scale. That is the advice.”
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