Exclusive

Domestic and international vaccine passports 'being considered', Raab tells LBC

14 February 2021, 09:44 | Updated: 14 February 2021, 15:35

Foreign Sec. doesn't rule out vaccine passports for domestic use

Nick Hardinges

By Nick Hardinges

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has told LBC the government is "considering" Covid vaccine passports for both domestic and international travel.

Speaking on LBC's Swarbrick on Sunday, the secretary of state confirmed the government "hasn't ruled out" introducing the Covid documents both within the UK and for overseas travel.

The measure would effectively require people to show their vaccine passport in order to move internationally and within Britain's borders.

Mr Raab told LBC the modalities and mechanisms for reopening the country still "need to be worked out" but that ministers are considering the introduction of domestic Covid passports.

"It's something that hasn't been ruled out and it's under consideration, but of course you've got to make it workable," he said.

Read more: Clinically vulnerable and over-65s offered Covid jab from Monday

Watch: Barring travel 'justified' if vaccine passport introduced, professor says

Dominic Raab told LBC domestic Covid passports are being considered
Dominic Raab told LBC domestic Covid passports are being considered. Picture: LBC

"Whether it's at an international, domestic or local level, you've got to know that the document being presented is something that you can rely on and that it's an accurate reflection of the status of the individual.

"I'm not sure there's a foolproof answer in the way that it's sometimes presented but of course we'll look at all the options."

However, a government spokesperson later told LBC: "There are no plans to introduce immunity passports for use domestically.”

Responding to the foreign secretary's comments, chair of the Covid Recovery Group (CRG) Mark Harper told LBC's Tom Swarbrick other countries are entitled to demand Covid vaccination prior to entry.

However, he said the UK should not "get to a position where we are telling people they can’t do things unless they have been vaccinated with Covid".

Read more: New Zealand announces three-day Covid lockdown in Auckland

Watch: Covid vaccine trialist shares concern over prospect of vaccine passports

CRG chair calls for Raab to reconsider position on vaccine passports

“For everyday life, I don’t think you want to require people to have to have a particular medical procedure before they can go about their day to day life," the CRG chair said.

"That is not how we do things in Britain.

"Obviously internationally that is up to other countries about what they require to enter their countries and obviously we will have to comply with that if we wish to travel abroad.”

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth told the programme he thinks Covid vaccine passports are "inevitable" for international travel and that some organisations domestically "are probably going to expect it".

"I don't think it should be compulsory," he told LBC.

"But I think the infrastructure should be put in place so that, if you've had a vaccination, you can have a sort of app on your phone or something like that to prove it."

Travel ban 'justified' if vaccine passport is introduced

Earlier on Sunday, former prime minister Tony Blair repeated his calls for a global coronavirus vaccine passport scheme.

He wrote in the Mail on Sunday: "We have the technology which allows us to do this securely and effectively. The need is obvious. The world is moving in this direction.

"We should plan for an agreed 'passport' now. The arguments against it really don't add up."

Mr Raab's comments come despite vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi saying last weekend that state-issued "discriminatory" immunity passports will not be rolled out.

However, he explained that those inoculated against Covid-19 will be able to ask their GP for written proof of their vaccine status if needed for travel.

Last week, Downing Street said the government has no "current plans" for coronavirus immunity passports amid reports that British officials have started work on a certification programme.

A No 10 spokesman said at the time: "There are still no current plans to roll out vaccine passports. Going on holiday is currently illegal."

Vaccine trialist concerned by possibility of vaccine passports

On Wednesday, airline trade body the International Air Transport Association said it is in talks with the government about developing an app allowing travellers to share their coronavirus test and vaccination status.

It came as Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had been in discussions with counterparts in Singapore and the US about the possibility of an international certification system.

Bioethics professor Dr Jonathan Ives told LBC's Tom Swarbrick on Friday that the government would be "justified" in barring travel for those who refuse to be vaccinated if immunity passports are introduced.

Dr Ives told Tom: "Any discrimination that's based on safety, particularly concerning things that limit your own freedoms to injure the safety of others, I think are prima facie justified and justifiable.

"So I wouldn't see immunity passports as unfair per se. But there are I think legitimate concerns in the way that they might be used and enacted.

"So I think there would be caveats that they have to be used properly."

Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Jeffrey Donaldson

DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson 'charged with allegations of historic nature' as he steps down as party leader

Russia bombed Ukrainian infrastructure overnight

Russia launches 'massive attack' on Ukraine's power supplies, with 'energy security under growing threat'

Newry Magistrates' Court

Man, 61, charged with non-recent sexual offences in Northern Ireland

Drivers queuing in Dover on Friday morning

Holidaymakers hit with 2-hour Dover ferry waits amid strong winds, as 2.6m hit the roads for Good Friday getaway

The attack happened on a train in south London

Teenager charged with attempted murder after south London train stabbing, with victim still in critical condition

Mother Natalie Pinnell

Mother left in tears after daughter with complex needs 'erased' from school photo

Amber Rudd and Mary Beard have both been nominated to the Garrick Club

Amber Rudd and Mary Beard among seven women nominated for membership of all-male Garrick Club

Exclusive
Anneliese Dodds said Labour would make sure local people have 'skin in the game' with tackling inequality

'Rebuild has to start from ground up,' Labour's Anneliese Dodds says, and 'local people must have skin in the game'

Mohamed Mansour has been awarded a knighthood

Conservatives accused of 'cronyism' after donor who gave £5 million awarded knighthood in surprise honours list

Exclusive
Justin Welby recalled his experience of coping with his father's drinking as a teenager.

‘It was utterly isolating’: Archbishop of Canterbury recalls harrowing childhood with alcoholic father

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster