**TL;DR Vaccine passports work to develop discriminatory binaries of ‘have’ and ‘have nots’.** The government is currently reviewing whether ‘Covid-status certificates could play a role in reopening parts of our economy, reducing restrictions on social contact and improving safety’ (GOV UK 2021), with several countries already announcing that those with proof of both vaccines will be able to travel without quarantining and with limited regulations. However, the idea of requiring such passports has come with significant backlash and criticism, for instance, the Head of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Gloria Guevara, echoed many when she claimed ‘we should never require the vaccination to get a job or to travel’ further adding that it almost ‘takes us to discrimination’. Its not just Guevara, Nadhim Zahawi (UK’s vaccine minister) originally stated back in December 2020, that there was ‘no plan of introducing a vaccine passport’ because the method of monitoring would be ‘discriminatory’. Further to this, the most obvious criticism surrounds the role of the vaccine in transmitting and carrying the virus. Currently, the vaccine is only known to prevent a person from becoming unwell with Covid-19, however there is no knowing whether those who are vaccinated can pick up, carry and continue to infect others. If this were the case, vaccinations would make no difference to spreading the virus when travelling, so why must there be separate rules for those who are vaccinated and those who aren’t? Furthermore, for some, vaccination is simply not a possibility at present, be it for reasons such as pregnancy and allergies, leading to further discrimination and segregation.

Vaccine passports, documents to show to travelers they are safe from COVID-19, are understandably a frustrating aspect to navigating a world plagued by COVID-19. It is not immoral to feel as though vaccine passports make us feel as if we are in a totalitarian government. But even though vaccine passports are frustrating to many, they are a perfectly reasonable method for people to travel. The most obvious reasons for issuing vaccine passports would be the simplest way for families to travel, or get back to business traveling. Nicole Hassoun and Anders Herlitz wrote for Scientific American that vaccine passports would "offer an opportunity for employees to get back to work and families to reunite". It is reasonable for airlines to require documentation for passengers that want to travel by plane. Requirements of a vaccine passport may help encourage people to obtain a coronavirus vaccine. If they need a vaccine to enjoy the daily luxuries without having to wear a mask or do it at all, they may feel incentivized to getting a vaccine. To make them seem ethical, they propose enforcing a mask policy for people that need to travel but have not obtained a vaccine. They should also be equally distributed, so that they do not come across to some people as an elite status symbol. Vaccine passports may be inevitable as the world navigates between those vaccinated by the coronavirus and those who are not. And people are not wrong to feel that requirements to obtain one is dictatorial. But it may be a necessary method to getting the world to return to normal. This can be dealt with, however, by ensuring they are distributed equally, fairly, and do not promote elite status symbols. CITATIONS: Fisher, Max. “Vaccine Passports, Covid’s Next Political Flash Point.” The New York Times, 3 Mar. 2021, www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/world/europe/passports-covid-vaccine.html. Hassoun, Nicole Anders Herlitz, et al. “How to Make ‘Immunity Passports’ More Ethical.” Scientific American, 24 Feb. 2021, www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-make-immunity-passports-more-ethical.

**TL;DR – While the practical and ethical concerns surrounding the vaccine passports are legitimate, I do believe that it could benefit us globally to have such a type of system in place. As long as, of course, it’s being implemented in the correct manner – not for exploitation purposes.** Alex Ledsom (2021), senior contributor for [Forbes]( https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2021/01/30/vaccination-passports-set-to-happenbut-are-they-fair/?sh=6fbdeddb4b57) addresses this very issue when she questions the fairness of these passports. According to her, most countries currently require a mandatory negative Covid-19 test result for all incoming passengers, which is to be taken no more than 72 hours before departure. Examples of such countries include the U.S. (President Biden mandated this from 26 January 2021 onwards), England (mandated this from 4am Friday 15 January), as well as, France (mandated this from midnight 24 January). So, many people think that the with the combination of the vaccination efforts, reduction of social gatherings (when necessary), social distancing, plus adding in this new element – the *vaccination or immunity passports,* it would be the *ideal way to reopening travelling for more people.* More specifically, the idea is that this would provide a universal document showing proof that one has been vaccinated and as a result, would help to further curb and control the spread of the virus overall. Certainly, *in theory* this sounds like a *good* and even *ideal plan.* However, people are more than a little concerned over the privacy and ethics of these passports. And rightfully so. Nathalie Thomas (2021), who writes for [Reuters]( https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-vaccine-pa-idUSKBN2A4134) explores some of the same concerns Ledsom did. For instance, Thomas looked at both the travelling and entertainment industries which have been struggling to operate at profitable levels –especially where the aspect of social distancing is concerned. Of particular importance, is also making sure that the process for this is implemented as efficiently as possible. What’s more, while it should be noted that the development of these passports are already being tested at places such as Britain’s National Health Service – which is supported by UK government funding, [the practical and ethical concerns](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/24/the-guardian-view-on-vaccine-passports-a-tool-to-handle-with-care) have not gone unnoticed. This can be seen when iProov founder and chief executive, Andrew Bud makes mention of a very important and astute point saying, “I don’t think we should be forcing people into the vaccine passports. It should be a choice. But on entry, if you don’t have that passport, then we will give you another option.” He went on to suggest that the use of rapid result coronavirus tests might be a possibility. Furthermore, while Thomas does admit there are consequences that has to be thoroughly examined, it’s worth it to do some further research into this matter as it develops. So as evidenced, we can see that the idea – at least in theory of these vaccine passports are not all bad. I mean, if it can be implemented, regulated and monitored transparently and properly, then this would be a good sort of system to have in place for managing and containing the current pandemic, as well as, potential future pandemics.

(Based on current information at time of writing) Vaccine passports are next to redundant at this point. What does the passport say? It says that you have been vaccinated. Great, you may say. HOWEVER, vaccinated people can still catch, carry and spread the virus. Healthy unvaccinated people would be rejected because they don't have the passport. Unhealthy vaccinated people would be allowed to pass. Surely the best course of action is to TEST EVERYONE just in case someone, including the vaccinated, has the virus.