During Boris Johnson’s last announcement, he made it clear that the government are considering how covid-status certification could help reopen the economy. Essentially, that means whether or not we’ll be required to use vaccine passports in certain settings, or provide a negative covid test or positive antibody test in order to enter specific places or events.
Reports have been flying about so-called ‘vaccine passports’ ever since they were first suggested as a way to ease lockdown and social distancing measures. While some consider them an integral way to host certain events, particularly after July when all over-18s should have had at least one dose of the vaccine, others fear they will be used in discriminatory or counterproductive ways.
Right now, the government has confirmed that vaccine passports or covid status certificates will not be required to enter shops, pubs or anything else re-opening in the second and third stages of easing lockdown. That means when things ease on the 12th April and 17th May, there definitely won’t be a legal requirement for a vaccine passport.
‘The principle of requiring some people to have a certificate to prove they are not passing on the disease, like surgeons who have to prove they are vaccinated against hep B or whatever, that can be a sensible one,’ Boris said in a recent press conference. ‘
However, it is legal for businesses to ask customers for proof of Covid status if they want to – as long as they’re not breaking any equalities laws – so whether they do or don’t do that is up to them. Given how much the economy has suffered in the last year, it’s unlikely many will. The fear is, though, that the government would change the law at a later date to force businesses to request proof of Covid status. As it stands, that is just that: a fear.
Covid-status certification is likely to become a feature of our lives.
The government has not suggested proof of covid status will ever be required by law, however they have said that ‘even without Government intervention, COVID-status certification is likely to become a feature of our lives until the threat from the pandemic recedes.’
In their review of covid status certification, the government stated the following:
‘Other countries are already developing their own certification systems, such as the “Green Pass” in Israel and the “digital green certificate” in the European Union. Negative tests are already required to enter the UK and many other countries and, as vaccination programmes roll out worldwide, countries have made clear they will soon require proof of vaccination in order to cross the border.
‘Likewise, in the UK, businesses and other organisations are able to ask customers for proof of COVID-status in order to access their premises, as long as they are compliant with equalities legislation. The Government believes that introducing a ban on this would in most cases be an unjustified intrusion on how businesses choose to make their premises safe - although, as set out below, there may be exceptions where the Government needs to intervene to ensure equitable access to essential services. It is therefore right that the Government provides a means of easily demonstrating COVID-status, in order to ensure UK citizens and residents are not denied opportunities to travel or attend certain venues or events.’
So, while they might be developing ways we can prove our covid status, there doesn’t seem to be any intention to force businesses to request them. Currently though, when it comes to large scale events, the government is testing out how using vaccine passports could make them safer and therefore more likely to go ahead. A club night, the FA Cup final and a mass participation run are among events which will be part of a study over the next two months.
But the big question for many people is, what about those that can’t get the vaccine for whatever reason? If these trials prove successful and vaccine passports are required for mass events like festivals, will they be unable to attend?
It’s particularly concerning for pregnant people, who are generally not recommended to have the vaccine unless they are vulnerable – with those who are pregnant told to discuss their options individually with their doctor. Those with certain health conditions, allergies or immune system problems have also been told the vaccine may not be suitable for them.
That’s why many people are now Googling ‘covid passport pregnant’, wondering what all this means for them.
What do covid vaccine passports mean for pregnant people?
While Boris Johnson is yet to talk about the impact of covid passports on pregnant people in particular, the government have made it clear that they are exploring equity concerns around people who cannot have the vaccine.
‘The Government will continue to explore the equity and ethical concerns bound up with any form of COVID-status certification,’ their roadmap review update reads. ‘Vaccination is not suitable for all citizens and there are other means of demonstrating a reduced risk of transmission. The Government believes that COVID-status certification could be acquired through vaccinations, testing or natural immunity. It is also important that there are appropriate exemptions for people for whom vaccination is not advised and repeat testing is difficult.’
With that being said, it seems as though if vaccine passports are ever in our future, anyone who cannot get the vaccine for medical reasons would be exempt from providing one.
But also, it’s important to remember that proof of covid status does not necessarily mean you need a vaccine passport anyway. If some mass events do eventually require ‘covid status certification’, you can prove your covid status with a lateral flow test or antibody test. In fact, since having the vaccine doesn’t mean you cannot catch covid ever again, they may be required for those who’ve had the vaccine too.
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