Commotion: Vaccine Passports

As more COVID-19 vaccines are distributed around the world, heated discussion has emerged surrounding the possibility of a “vaccine passport,” a document issued card or smartphone code which proves that the bearer has been inoculated. These documents can be used for travel, or even admission to schools, restaurants, shops, or events.

While no U.S. states or domestic airlines have so far imposed vaccine passport requirements, Florida governor Ron DeSantis made headlines last week when he told reporters that Florida would “reject” them. “You have some of these states saying to go to a sporting event, you have to show either a negative test or a vaccine proof. I think you just got to make decisions. If you want to go to an event, go to an event, if you don’t, don’t, but to be requiring people to provide all this proof,” said DeSantis. “That’s not how you get society back to normal.” 

His comments echo growing concern across the political spectrum on the ethics of a vaccine passport: Included among them are liberals and conservatives, anti-vaccine activists, and public health officials.