Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi – who said the Government had no plans to introduce vaccine passports in January – confirmed on Trevor Philips on Sunday (and Sky News) that plans to introduce a vaccine status certification scheme for entry into large venues would go ahead at the end of the month. This is in spite of the fact that double jabbed people can still become infected and infected others. MailOnline has more.
The Vaccine Minister said the Government is concerned large venues “could end up causing a real spike in infections” because of groups of people mixing in close proximity.
He said the “worst thing” for those venues would be for surging coronavirus case numbers to result in an “open shut, open shut strategy” and the “best way” to ensure they can remain open for the long term “is to check vaccine status”.
He also signalled the requirement would likely be imposed on other venues.
He said at the time: “I don’t want to have to close nightclubs again as they have elsewhere. But it does mean nightclubs need to do the socially responsible thing.
“As we said last week, we do reserve the right to mandate certification at any point if it’s necessary to reduce transmission.
“And I should serve notice now that by the end of September, when all over-18s have had their chance to be double jabbed we’re planning to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather.”
The Government has faced mounting Tory backbench anger over the vaccine passports plan, with critics arguing the documents are unnecessary and infringe on individual freedoms.
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