The U.S. government’s White House press secretary Jen Psaki will not issue the so-called vaccine passports after Texas sought to restrict their development due to privacy concerns.
“The government does not now support a system that requires Americans to have a credential,” Psaki told White House reporters on Tuesday. “There will be no federal vaccination database and no federal mandate will require everyone to get a single vaccination certificate.”
“The government wants to protect the privacy of Americans and does not want vaccine passports being used unfairly against people,” Psaki said.
Some companies and colleges insist that people provide proof of the COVID-19 vaccination – for example, before boarding cruise ships, entering stadiums or returning to campus – as a way to safely resume the pre-pandemic.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, for example, plans to resume shipping from US ports from July 4 and will require the vaccination of guests and crew, the company said.
Brown University and Northeastern University on Tuesday joined a group of universities that require students to get a COVID-19 vaccine to return to campus in the fall.
Vaccination gates are commonly considered as smartphone applications that show that the container has been vaccinated against COVID-19, which facilitates the travel and use of services such as restaurants. The White House earlier said such efforts should be led by the private and non-profit sector.
Several states say they will not facilitate such requirements.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, on Tuesday issued an order banning state agencies or any entity that receives public money from requiring vaccine passports.
This effort follows a similar ban by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, also a Republican, on the type of Excelsior Pass introduced in New York State, which allows residents to get their COVID-19 vaccines or negative coronavirus verify test results before entering concert halls or stadiums.
Psaki said the government would provide guidance “that provides important answers to questions Americans have, especially about concerns about privacy, security or discrimination soon.”
There is sharp debate on the issue in the UK and other countries. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is on his way to fight with MPs over plans to introduce vaccination gates as part of the opening of services.
In the country, so-called COVID status certificates – based on evidence of a vaccine, a negative test or immunity for those who have recovered from a coronavirus infection – may eventually eliminate the need to test audiences at live events and passengers. international travel, under government plans.