Florida Governor Bans Covid-19 ‘Vaccine Passports’

Florida Governor Bans Covid-19 ‘Vaccine Passports’

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The order prohibits any government entity from issuing vaccine passports and prevents companies from requiring such documentation.

DeSantis cited issues of freedom and privacy as the primary basis for action, arguing that the implementation and application of vaccine passports “would create two classes of citizens based on vaccinations”.

The order notes that many Floridians have not yet had the opportunity to obtain a vaccine, while some may have acquired immunity from infection and others may not be able to obtain the Covid-19 vaccine for health, religious or other reasons.

ACLU warns that 'too much can go wrong' with digital vaccine passports

“Covid-19’s individual vaccination records are private health information and should not be shared by mandate,” says DeSantis’ executive order.

DeSantis signaled earlier this week that he would not support vaccine passports.

“It is totally unacceptable for the government or the private sector to impose on you the requirement that you show proof of the vaccine to simply be able to participate in normal society,” he said on Monday during a news conference.

The governor of florida tweeted Friday that the Florida legislature is “working to make these protections permanent for Florida residents,” and that he hopes to make them into law soon.

Privacy Fears

There have been major privacy concerns regarding vaccine passports, especially if a centralized, computer-based system is created so that people can prove that they have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

American Civil Liberties Union senior policy analyst Jay Stanley in an article this week defended a decentralized and open source system to ensure that people know how and where their data is being used.
The case for issuing Covid-19 vaccine passports

“Does he always inform you that you present a credential?” Stanley asked. “Every time someone asks to see if you received a vaccine? Does this inform any government agency? That would also be very bad ”.

The Biden government has been working with non-profit organizations and technology companies to develop a set of standards for people to prove they received the vaccine, according to at least two government officials.

However, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that there will not be a federal mandate that requires all Americans to obtain a vaccine credential.

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