Domestic vaccine passports scrapped, says Sajid Javid

Vaccine passports for events in England will be scrapped

The proposed vaccine passport scheme set up for nightclubs, football stadiums and other future large events in England is no longer going ahead, according to Health Secretary, Sajid Javid.

As reported by the BBC, while vaccine passports for foreign travel are still likely to be required when visiting certain countries, they will not be made mandatory for attending large-scale events in England.

Vaccine passport scheme for nightclubs and large events in England will not be going ahead, Health Secretary Sajid Javid tells BBC
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Javid told the BBC, “We shouldn’t be doing things for the sake of it” and after having looked at Covid data and evidence since things reopened on Freedom Day, stated: “I’m pleased to say we will not be going ahead with plans.”

The scheme was set to be introduced by the start of October and while many events had already required Covid passes/proof of testing and or recent infection at their own discretion, thousands have already returned to the likes of the football stadiums which have not yet required them.

The Night Time Industries Association warned it would “cripple the industry” and, meanwhile, opposition to the plans also came from both Tory MPs on the Covid Recovery Group and the Liberal Democrats; party leader, Ed Davey, described them as “divisive, unworkable and expensive”.

This comes as yet another sharp U-turn from the current government, which recently announced they were raising national insurance and cutting universal credit, despite having said they wouldn’t.

Scrapping vaccine passports comes just a week after vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, told The Andrew Marr Show (the same programme on which plans were revealed) that the need of the month would be an optimum time to roll out the scheme as all over-18s would have then been offered two jabs.

Javid is quoted as saying: “We’ve looked at it properly and, whilst we should keep it in reserve as a potential option, I’m pleased to say that we will not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports.”