When Orange County announced last week that it would launch a “passport” vaccination program this month, it caused a stir among some residents who believe it would affect their freedom.
The announcement comes amid a national debate over potential government-issued vaccine passports, which the state and federal government do not require.
About 200 residents turned up at a meeting of the Board of Supervisors in Orange County on Tuesday to voice their opposition to the province’s program. The director of Orange County, health care agency, Clayton Chau and the supervisors tried to allay their concerns before the comment period.
Chau said the country does not need a vaccine passport, but the agency plans to offer a digital vaccination record for residents who request it. The record is likely to be in the form of a scannable QR code in the Othena app, which the country used for scheduling coronavirus tests and COVID-19 vaccinations.
Chau said the digital record could be useful because private businesses could require customers to be vaccinated. He said the country does not require anyone to be vaccinated.
As more people are vaccinated and the economy reopens, certain businesses and venues can only allow people who have been vaccinated. It requires a digital or physical vaccination record.
“As you know, President Biden said, although there is no national passport requirement, we need to provide something for Americans when they encounter a situation where the required proof of vaccination exists,” Chau said.
‘The question has always been: can the government do it? The answer is now no. But can the private side do it? The answer is yes. I’m not a lawyer, but this is what I said, that a business has every right to do what they want to make their environment safe. ‘
Chau also pointed out that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have warned the public about fake vaccination cards. A digital vaccination record may be more reliable.
“I want to emphasize that the sole purpose of this is to let people know that they have been vaccinated,” Chau said of the digital record.
Council chairman Andrew Do said the use of the word ‘passport’ in the country ‘is probably rude’.
Do and supervisor Don Wagner in a media statement on Monday night expressed their opposition to government vaccine passports.
“This is America,” Do said in the release. “Under no circumstances would we or would ever need a passport to live and receive services within our community.”
Wagner, who opposed the state’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus, expressed the thoughts in the release: ‘It is no matter for the government to tell free citizens where they may travel, and the government may never discriminate against its citizens vaccine status. ”
At the meeting, supervisors tried to communicate that the province’s pilot program is not a passport of the government.
‘We have 200 people who want to talk about this, and they’m worried we’re going to say at some point, without the digital equivalent of this map or anything else, you will not be able to travel Orange County, you will not be able to travel to Orange County come and leave Orange County, you are not going to be able to go to a grocery store, ‘Wagner said during the meeting. “It’s not what we do, it’s not what you intend, and you will resist it if someone suggests it to you, right?” Wagner asks Chau.
“That’s correct,” Chau said.
New supervisor Katrina Foley, who replaced Michelle Steel, pointed out the misunderstanding of some of the public.
“I’m concerned that we are allowing a small minority of individuals who call our offices all day yesterday and who started ringing this morning to determine how we serve the health of the community,” Foley said.
Following the comments of the supervisors, residents took turns reprimanding the council and the proposed program for hours. Many claim that there is no pandemic and that vaccines are not effective. A Bible verse was read and referred to the power of God more than once. Terms such as “communism” and “fascism” were used.
“Let me be nothing if it’s not clear. You can call it any damn thing. We all know it when we see it, it’s a digital vaccine passport,” Leigh Dundas said. “This is the beginning and the end of Nazi Germany. Please show me your papers before you pass. This is an electronic dog collar. And since when has Orange County become the People’s Republic of China? ”
“Orange County residents, as Americans, should not be forced to receive an experimental vaccine, and then they should share the private health information just to lead a normal life,” Steve Rivera said. ‘We all have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, as stated in the Declaration of Independence. The freedom of movement and travel cannot be infringed because it is a fundamental right. ”
Brazil writes for Times Community News.