Ron DeSantis has vowed to take executive action in Florida against ‘completely unacceptable’ plans for vaccine passports over privacy fears.
The governor slapped down President Joe Biden’s potential scheme which would allow Americans to return to pre-pandemic activities like travel and shopping by showing proof they’ve been inoculated against COVID-19.
The Biden administration is working with private firms to develop the passes which would likely be available for free through smartphones, The Washington Post reported.
But DeSantis said the plans would have ‘huge privacy implications’ which would violate personal freedoms.
The Republican said at a press conference at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee on Monday: ‘We’re not supportive of that. I think it’s something that people have certain freedoms and individual liberties to make decisions for themselves.
‘It’s completely unacceptable for either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply be able to participate in normal society.’
Ron DeSantis has slammed Joe Biden’s ‘completely unacceptable’ plans for vaccine passports
The governor slapped down the President’s potential scheme which would allow Americans to return to pre-pandemic activities like travel and shopping by showing proof they’ve been inoculated
The Biden administration said there are currently at least 17 different passport initiatives being developed by public and private entities, while the World Health Organization is working to develop a ‘smart vaccination certificate.’
New York State officials recently launched a digital pass which shows proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test.
The Excelsior Pass will be accepted at major entertainment venues like Madison Square Garden and Albany’s Times Union Center and residents can either use it on an app or print it out.
But there are concerns about the privacy data required for the passports as well as accessibility issues for those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged.
The developers must also make sure that the systems aren’t breached and prevent fake digital passports from being issued. Another dilemma is how long immunity lasts and whether COVID-19 variants need to be taken into account.
New York State officials recently launched the Excelsior digital pass (pictured) which shows proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test
Excelsior officials say the app does not store or track private health data within the app and works like a mobile airline boarding pass with a secure QR code.
But DeSantis wants state legislature to fight the passes which could see Americans discriminated for not having been vaccinated.
He said: ‘I think this is something that has huge privacy implications. It is not necessary to do.’
He previously warned if ‘folks try to start doing it privately, we may have a role to play there as well because I do think it’s unacceptable.’
Other countries and organisations including the European Union, China, and Japan are working on their own versions of the vaccine passports.
In Israel, the most vaccinated country in the world, public events have resumed for those who have been inoculated.
Attendees are required to show a ‘Green Pass, ‘a government-validated certificate showing they had received both doses of the vaccine more than a week prior to the event or that they had recovered from COVID-19 and were presumed immune.
The passes are valid for six months from the time of full vaccination.
Sources said the Biden administration’s effort is being led by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The White House’ coronavirus czar, Jeff Zients, is working to coordinate with various government agencies.
‘Our role is to help ensure that any solutions in this area should be simple, free, open source, accessible to people both digitally and on paper, and designed from the start to protect people’s privacy,’ Zients told reporters on March 12.
Zients is expected to provide more information about the government’s efforts toward developing the passport later this week.
There is concern, however, that the administration’s embrace of the project could be interpreted by some as a government mandate for citizens to get vaccinated.
‘If it became a government mandate, it would go down a dark road very quickly,’ Brian Castrucci, the head of the Maryland-based de Beaumont Foundation, told the Post.
The foundation is a public health group that is funding research into why some Americans are skeptical of the vaccine.
Castrucci said that the administration needs to encourage private companies to take the lead on developing the passport.
‘[The passport] becomes a credential. It becomes a “needing your papers,” if you will,’ Castrucci said.
‘That could be dangerous — and it could turn off people.’
The road to normalcy appears bumpy.
