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COVID-19 pandemic
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Trials to assess the effectiveness of an immunity passport scheme, also known as a COVID passport or COVID certification scheme, were confirmed by the UK government on 3 April 2021 as a way of helping to restart public events in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made following much discussion and speculation about the idea by politicians and in the British media. The government announced that trials of a scheme for England would begin on 16 April, starting with a comedy evening in Liverpool.

In December 2021, COVID passports or similar verification methods became mandatory to access certain high-density venues per government regulations to address the spread of the infections Omicron variant of COVID-19.[1][2]

History

The idea of some kind of immunity or vaccine passport was first mentioned in February 2021, when the Greek Prime Minister said his country would welcome British holidaymakers who had been vaccinated. The UK government ruled out the idea of issuing a vaccine passports for those who had been vaccinated.[3] On 23 February, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a review into the idea of vaccine passports to allow people to go on holiday and into venues, describing the proposal as having "deep and complex issues".[4] On 25 March, Johnson said an update on proposals would be given in April, but suggests it may not be possible to introduce such a scheme until every adult in the UK has been offered a vaccine.[5]

On 2 April 2021, The Daily Telegraph reported that COVID passports would be trialled at a series of venues to test their use, prompting a group of more than 70 MPs from across the political spectrum to voice their opposition to the idea. The group, which included Jeremy Corbyn, a former leader of the Labour Party and Iain Duncan Smith, a former leader of the Conservative Party, describing it as "dangerous, discriminatory and counterproductive". In response the UK government said that no decisions had been made as regards the idea.[6]

On 3 April the government confirmed that a COVID passport system would be trialled as a way of enabling large events, such as sports and music events, to restart. The first trial was announced to take place at a comedy evening at Liverpool's Hot Water Comedy Club on 16 April and continue at other events in England through to mid-May.[7] The government subsequently confirmed that any such scheme would be time limited.[8]

A 2021 FA Cup Semi-Final match on 18 April, the 2021 EFL Cup Final on 25 April and the 2021 FA Cup Final on 15 May were also announced as potential candidates for trialling the scheme.[9] The passport, a certificate, would be issued upon the supply of information including whether a person has been vaccinated, any recent negative test, or natural immunity through recent positive test.[7]

On 11 May 2021, the UK government announced that from 17 May people in England who had received both COVID vaccines would be able to use the NHS app as a vaccine passport; a paper version would also be available by calling 119.[10]

In May 2021, a scheme in Scotland was unveiled that allows people to download a certificate giving details of their vaccination status from the NHS Scotland website.[11] The document is intended for anyone planning to travel overseas, and people were advised to download it 21 days before travelling. On 22 May it was reported that a security flaw in the software would allow people to edit their vaccination status by using popular computer programs. The Scottish Government said it was working to rectify the situation.[12] On 1 September 2021, it was announced that vaccine passports would be required for entry to nightclubs and many large events in Scotland.[13]

There has been some investigation into the possible impact that vaccine passports may have in the UK. This evidence shows that vaccine passports may lower inclination to vaccinate and may discriminate against certain socio-demographic groups. [14][15]

In December 2021, new regulations made a COVID passport, equivalent proof of vaccination, or negative lateral flow test mandatory for entry into many high-density venues in England to combat the spread of the Omicron variant.[1][2]

NHS COVID Pass

NHS COVID Pass exists in England,[16] and Wales,[17] with a similar verification scheme (not using the same name) available in Scotland.[18]

The Department of Health has introduced an automated method for Northern Irish citizens who have received both their COVID-19 vaccinations in Northern Ireland to apply for COVID vaccination certification.[19]

The England domestic NHS COVID Pass was discontinued on 12 May 2022, following the discontinuation of the domestic NHS COVID Pass letter on 1 April 2022.[20] As of 9 June 2022 the England NHS COVID Pass is only used for international travel.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 "Covid passports: Where will I need a vaccine pass and how do I get one?". BBC News. BBC. BBC. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Omicron: What are the new Plan B rules for England?". BBC News. BBC News. BBC. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Covid: Minister rules out vaccine passports in UK". BBC News. 7 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  4. ↑ "Covid-19: PM promises review on issues of vaccine passports". BBC News. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "Covid: Jab passports possible 'after all offered vaccine'". BBC News. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "Coronavirus: Dozens of MPs criticise 'divisive' Covid passports". BBC News. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Covid passport trials begin with live comedy night". BBC News. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Covid: Passports showing vaccine status would be time-limited, says minister". BBC News. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Carabao Cup final to have 8,000 fans". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "NHS app ready to become vaccine passport next week". BBC News. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  11. ↑ "Covid in Scotland: Vaccine certificates for those travelling abroad". BBC News. 19 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  12. ↑ "Covid vaccination certificates hit by security glitch". BBC News. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  13. ↑ "Scots to need vaccine passports for large events". BBC News. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2021.
  14. ↑ de Figueiredo A, Larson HJ, Reicher S (September 2021). "The potential impact of vaccine passports on inclination to accept COVID-19 vaccinations in the United Kingdom: evidence from a large cross-sectional survey and modelling study". eClinicalMedicine. 39: 101109. doi:10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101109. PMC 8428473. PMID 34522870.
  15. ↑ Porat T, Burnell R, Calvo RA, Ford E, Paudyal P, Baxter WL, Parush A (August 2021). ""Vaccine Passports" may backfire: findings from a cross-sectional study in the UK and Israel on willingness to get vaccinated against Covid-19". Vaccines. 9 (8): 902. doi:10.3390/vaccines9080902. PMC 8402442. PMID 34452027.
  16. ↑ "NHS COVID Pass". 21 June 2021.
  17. ↑ "NHS COVID Pass: prove your vaccination status". GOV.WALES. 24 August 2023.
  18. ↑ "Get a record of your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination status".
  19. ↑ "Coronavirus (COVID-19): COVID certificate for NI residents | nidirect". 15 July 2021.
  20. 1 2 "Using the NHS COVID Pass to demonstrate COVID-19 status". GOV.UK. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
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