Vaccine Passports - Hugely Discriminatory

[OMB]

"Hugely Discriminatory": India Opposes Vaccine Passports At G7 Meet


India expressed concerns about the disparity of vaccination among rich and developing countries.
Harsh Vardhan was addressing the G7 health ministers' meeting.


New Delhi: With little over 3 per cent of its population fully vaccinated, India has firmly opposed the adoption of COVID-19 vaccine passports at the G7 meeting of health ministers on Friday, saying that such an initiative could prove to be "hugely discriminatory".
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, addressing the meeting of his counterparts from seven wealthy nations - to which India was invited this year as a guest - raised concerns about the availability of vaccines and low rates of inoculation in developing nations.

"At this stage of [the] pandemic, it is pertinent to also discuss about India's concern over the idea of a vaccine passport. Considering the fact of lower levels of vaccination in developing countries in contrast to the developed countries and still unaddressed issues related to equitable and affordable access, supply and distribution of safe and effective vaccines, India would propose that implementation of vaccine passports will be hugely discriminatory and disadvantageous to the developing countries," he said.

"India would suggest that the same should be implemented duly taking into consideration emerging evidence on [the] efficacy of vaccines and under the overarching coordination of WHO duly attending to the anomaly of access and affordability as it exists today," Dr Vardhan said.

Several countries including the US and the UK have talked about vaccine passports for letting their citizens travel abroad or visitors from other countries to come in. The European Union has also been working to introduce a vaccine travel document for tourists.

The G7 health ministers meeting in Britain agreed Friday to step up coordination against future pandemics and other threats, but made no new commitments to speed up vaccine deliveries to less developed countries.

Meeting in Oxford in southern England ahead of next week's G7 summit, the ministers agreed on a new charter to deliver international clinical trials of treatments and vaccines.

The agreement aims to make it easier and quicker to share results from vaccine and therapeutic trials to tackle COVID-19 and future health issues, the ministers said in a joint declaration.

But facing growing calls to ensure a fairer global distribution of vaccine doses, the G7 health gathering failed to break new ground, reiterating previous commitments to share doses "as soon as possible".

Poorer countries, which do not have enough stocks for comprehensive inoculation programmes, have lagged in their jabs' drives as they wait for stocks.

G7 countries are already committed to supporting the Covax global vaccine sharing programme, but the World Health Organization and others have warned it is short of around 200 million doses in the short term.

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Despite being the world's largest producer of vaccines, India's inoculation programme has lagged because the government did not buy enough shots last year when most large nations placed their orders.

Comments
Facing a massive backlash over the devastating second wave, the government announced a series of steps to speed up the process and has promised to inoculate its entire population by the end of the year.

https://www.ndtv.com/india/page-2

 

[Bewal Express]

Anymore than discrimination normally faced by people? Its not as if people can go to any country they want without meeting the requirements

 

[MenInG]

Tony Blair has said it is "time to distinguish" between people who have and haven't had a coronavirus vaccine.

The former prime minister has warned it "makes no sense at all to treat those who have had vaccination the same as those who haven't" - and said relaxing measures for those who have had both jabs will provide a powerful incentive.

Mr Blair's remarks came as it emerged that 13.5 million first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were given out in May, setting a new monthly record.

The ex-Labour leader also described the NHS app that proves someone is vaccinated as "inadequate", and warned it needs to be simpler and more effective.

His remarks came in response to a new report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, which says "vaccine status matters" and that health passes can "allow citizens to prove their status in a secure, privacy-preserving way".

The report's authors said that, if a health pass system was used at home and abroad, "we can move beyond blunt, catch-all tools and align with other countries by removing certain restrictions for the fully vaccinated, thereby enabling us to sustainably reopen the economy".

And they added: "For as long as the world goes largely unvaccinated and the risk of a new variant remains significant, it's vital that we have an alternative to the blunt tool of lockdowns to enable the country to live freely and safely."

Mr Blair said: "It is time to distinguish for the purposes of freedom from restriction between the vaccinated and unvaccinated, both for citizens here for domestic purposes; but also for our citizens and those from other countries in respect of travel on the basis that being vaccinated substantially reduces risk."

The 68-year-old, who served as PM from 1997 to 2007, made it clear that this would involve discriminating between the vaccinated and unvaccinated, adding: "Other than for medical reasons, people should be vaccinated."

In response to his remarks, a senior government source told the PA news agency: "Once again Mr Blair appears to have learned of things already in the pipeline and decided to publicly call for them.

"It's becoming something of a habit. Nonetheless we thank him for his continued support."

Meanwhile, people who have been contacted to bring forward their second coronavirus vaccine appointment are being urged to rebook as soon as possible.

Last month, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that the interval between doses should be reduced to eight weeks for the clinically vulnerable, as well as everyone over the age of 50.

The move aims to combat the spread of the COVID-19 variant first detected in India, also known as the Delta variant.

Overall, more than 1.7 million people have been sent texts by the NHS that invite them to reschedule their appointment.

Dr Emily Lawson, the NHS lead for the COVID-19 vaccination programme, said: "The vaccine is our most effective weapon against the virus and there has never been a more important time to get protected."

More than half of adults in England are now fully vaccinated, with 23,077,511 people having received both doses.

Some 33,525,485 people - more than three-quarters of the country's adult population - have received their first dose.

All of this comes as the government "draws up other options" before making a decision on whether to completely lift COVID restrictions on 21 June.

While Number 10 is still planning to go ahead with the final step in the roadmap, it is waiting for more data before taking any decisions.

Options under discussion are said to include retaining the wearing of face masks in certain settings, or delaying the end to legal limits on social contact until July.

Until now, the government has only ever said there is "nothing in the data" to suggest ending lockdown should be delayed.

Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen told Sky News the "public appetite" for restrictions could "wane very quickly" if all measures are not removed on 21 June.

He added: "Lockdowns were there to protect the NHS. We know hospitalisations are a fraction of what they were at the peak. We've been told we've got to get used to living with this virus. Living with the virus doesn't mean we have to be in lockdown forever - that's not a solution."

Meanwhile, an NHS boss has told Sky News that vaccines appear to have "broken the chain" between catching coronavirus and becoming seriously ill.

Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, said while the number of people in hospital with the variant first detected in India, also known as the Delta variant, was increasing, it was much lower than what was seen in previous waves.

On Saturday, the UK reported another 5,765 coronavirus cases - significantly up on the total on the same day last week, but down on Friday's two-month high.

SKY

 

[gazza619]

Its not about rich and poor, its about being smart and protecting your own population.

India has been anything but smart.

 

[OMB]

Its not about rich and poor, its about being smart and protecting your own population.

India has been anything but smart.

The rich nations themselves had internal disputes about whether to open up economy or enforce lockdowns. Don't think they were very protective of their population (early US in 2020 and UK later on).

It is clear that economy drives the decision making here and not protection.

 

[PetroDollars]

whats the difference between vaccine passports and getting a VISA, when it comes to discrimination?

 

[saeedhk]

I hope vaccine passport are introduced as soon as possible so that normalcy could be restored.

 

[Mamoon]

This whole business of passports and visas is discriminatory. COVID Vaccination is only an additional aspect of discrimination.

I don’t see what the issue/problem is.

 

[gazza619]

This whole business of passports and visas is discriminatory. COVID Vaccination is only an additional aspect of discrimination.

I don’t see what the issue/problem is.

Why is it discriminatory? If someone not vaccined and as such is at risk of being hospitalised due to Covid and thereby adding burden to health services is stopped from entering a country makes sense to me.

 

[gazza619]

The rich nations themselves had internal disputes about whether to open up economy or enforce lockdowns. Don't think they were very protective of their population (early US in 2020 and UK later on).

It is clear that economy drives the decision making here and not protection.

Not completely true that everyone just thinks of economy, a balance needs to be maintained.

If that was the case then India who is a major business partner of UK would not have been added to the red list.

 

[MP2011]

Nothing discriminatory about this policy! Every nation tries to protects its own citizens which is fair enough. And considering the kind of havoc Covid has unleashed globally, it only makes sense to insulate your local population to people who're not protected!

 

[MP2011]

We had chance to significantly vaccinate our population during last 5 months. We didn't even make the advance payments to vaccine manufacturers to give them financial cushion they needed at that crucial stage.

That we've only been able to fully vaccinate just 3.5% of our population doesn't give us any right to sook over what other sovereign nations are doing what is good for their own population.

 

[MenInG]

A cross-party group of MPs has said that the idea of COVID passports should be scrapped, describing them as discriminatory.

The Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee's report comes as the government reviews the possibility of a system that would prove a person's vaccination status, or whether they have tested negative for the virus.

They would then be able to access certain venues or events, or be subject to fewer restrictions.

But the committee said that such a system would "by its very nature be discriminatory" on the basis of race, religion, and socio-economic background, as well as age - many younger people are not yet eligible for the vaccine.

"We found no justification for introducing a COVID-status certification system that would be sufficient to counter what is likely to be a significant infringement of individual rights."

There are also concerns about the data protection risks involved in setting up the system, with the committee saying it "cannot see how establishing the infrastructure necessary for such as system could be an effective use of resources".

The committee called for the idea of using coronavirus passports domestically to be abandoned.

It said that the government's decision to go ahead with a COVID-status certificate for international travel had pre-empted reviews by the government and the committee, without consulting parliament.

"This could be construed as contempt for parliament and this committee, and this policy should have been set out in advance of any decision on the use of a certification system being taken.

"We found the government's approach on this matter to be all the more unfortunate as it appears to us that demonstrating COVID-status may become a necessary feature of international travel over the coming months and possibly years in order to avoid excessive quarantine and testing requirements.

"As such, any proposals would likely have been looked on favourably by and strengthened through the scrutiny of parliament."

The committee called for an assessment of the scheme's efficacy, a cost-benefit analysis and full financial costings before formal proposals are made.

It also wants to see the scientific evidence behind including venues such as nightclubs, football matches and international travel, but excluding buses, the Underground, and restaurants.

The warning comes ahead of 21 June, the date when the government was expected to lift all remaining COVID restrictions for England, although there is growing likelihood that surging cases of the delta variant (also known as the Indian variant) could see this delayed.

William Wragg MP, chairman of the committee, said: "We recognise the need to formulate an effective lockdown exit, but COVID passports are not the answer.

"We are entirely unconvinced by the case for their introduction.

"Although it is a tool that is being sold as and built with the intention of being for the universal good, it has the potential to cause great damage socially and economically."

Cabinet office minister, Michael Gove, who is leading the government's review, has previously said the benefits of a vaccine passports scheme are "finely balanced" and that if such a scheme proved too costly or too much "hassle" for the hospitality industry, then it would not be pursued.

SKY

 

[OMB]

Japan To Issue Vaccine Passports To Citizens For Travelling Abroad

"We are preparing to issue a certificate of vaccination for those who need one... when they visit foreign countries," top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told reporters.

apan said on Thursday it will make a vaccine passport available from next month for Japanese travellers, as governments around the world experiment with ways to relaunch tourism and business trips.
"We are preparing to issue a certificate of vaccination for those who need one... when they visit foreign countries," top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato told reporters.

The certificate will be paper-based rather than digital and will be issued by local governments from sometime next month, he said.

The European Union is working on a digital vaccine passport for this summer so it can welcome back badly needed tourists, and some EU countries plan to introduce certificates at the national level.

The EU version will feature information on whether a person has been vaccinated, or had the virus, tested negative, and recovered.

Last month, Washington said it was also considering special documentation for vaccinated Americans who want to travel abroad.

But the idea is controversial in some places, with conservative US states like Florida and Texas rejecting the idea of vaccine travel documents as a violation of peoples' basic rights.

In Japan, company officials have been keen for a vaccine document that would help reestablish business travel.

Japan's vaccine rollout started comparatively slowly, but has picked up pace in recent weeks. Just over six percent of the population is currently fully vaccinated.

The country's borders are closed to almost all foreign arrivals, though the rules will be relaxed for the Olympic Games, which open in Tokyo on July 23.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/japan-to-issue-certificate-of-covid-19-vaccine-in-passport-for-travel-abroad-2465835

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Switzerland, 8 European Union members approve Covidshield for Green Pass

The European Union's Digital COVID certificate or "Green Pass" is set to be rolled out on July 1 with an aim to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At least seven European countries including, Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland and Spain, and Switzerland have approved the Covidshield COVID-19 vaccine for 'Green Pass'.

Separately, Estonia has also confirmed that it will recognise all vaccines authorised by the government of India for the travel of Indians to that country, the sources told PTI.

The EU Digital COVID certificate or 'Green Pass' will be mandatory to travel to European countries and the document will serve as proof that a person is vaccinated against COVID-19.

The EMA had earlier cleared only four vaccines - Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech), Moderna, Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) for the green pass.

The development comes a day after India asked the members of the 27-nation grouping to individually consider allowing Indians who have taken Covishield and Covaxin vaccines.

New Delhi also conveyed to the EU member states that it will adopt a policy of reciprocity and exempt European nationals holding the 'Green Pass' from mandatory quarantine if its request to recognise Covishield and Covaxin vaccines is heeded to.

Read: India requests European countries to allow entry to those vaccinated with Covishield/Covaxin

The European Union's Digital COVID certificate or "Green Pass" is set to be rolled out on July 1 with an aim to facilitate free movement during the COVID-19.

Under this framework, persons who have taken vaccines authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will be exempted from travel restrictions within the EU region.

Earlier, an EU official had said that the individual member states have the flexibility to also accept vaccines that have been authorised at the national level or those approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Source : https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/i...pprove-covishield-for-green-pass-7112021.html

 

[Firebat]

No air travel without Covid vaccination certificate after August 1: NCOC

ISLAMABAD:
No air travel will be allowed without a vaccination certificate from August 1 onwards, announced the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday, adding that directives had been issued in this regard.

Announcing measures taken to curb the spread of the Covid-19 Delta variant already surfacing amid a fourth wave in Pakistan, the NCOC further announced ensuring strict adherence to SOPs from July 9 to 18 across the country.

The authority maintained that it has envisaged a comprehensive plan to deal with the variant as well as other variants of the virus in the country.

The NCOC feared that failure to adopt safety measures could have a dangerous outcome, adding that the Delta variant caused hundreds of deaths in India and put people in hospitals in a helpless situation due to a dearth of oxygen.

As part of the strategy, the NCOC will ensure compliance of Covid-induced standard operating procedures (SOPs) and expedite administering of vaccinations.

The country's nerve centre to deal with the efforts concerning the pandemic also announced mulling various recommendations to restrict unnecessary public movement during Eidul Azha.

The decision to implement the proposals is expected to be taken in the next few days keeping in view the situation.

The NCOC might also impose a ban on tourism given the increase in the number of cases.

It has been stressed that staffers in the private sector, including corporate sector, small, medium and large industries, agriculture, media, lawyers, private companies, factories, markets, transportation, hotels, traders, gymnasiums, mosques and clerics, wedding halls and workshops be essentially vaccinated before July 31.

Students above the age of 18 years are also required to get vaccinated before the said deadline.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/230965...d-vaccination-certificate-after-august-1-ncoc

 

[PakLFC]

It will be discriminatory towards those who refuse any vaccine. This passport is to force people to take the vaccine.

 

[OMB]

It will be discriminatory towards those who refuse any vaccine. This passport is to force people to take the vaccine.

I have taken 2 shots of Sinopharm (china vaccine) and considered ok to travel. But then I hear that some European countries may deny entry unless I take Pfizer.
Isn't that discriminatory?

 

[finalfantasy7]

how many countries can you go to in pakistan, as EU do not accept most chinese vaccination bar 1 i believe .

As the pakistan community lives basically in UK/ Canada/US mainly - are the US/CANADA any different to the Eu rule?

 

[cricketjoshila]

I have taken 2 shots of Sinopharm (china vaccine) and considered ok to travel. But then I hear that some European countries may deny entry unless I take Pfizer.
Isn't that discriminatory?

Most countries including India wont approve chinese vaccine.

 

[PakLFC]

I have taken 2 shots of Sinopharm (china vaccine) and considered ok to travel. But then I hear that some European countries may deny entry unless I take Pfizer.
Isn't that discriminatory?

Yes it is discriminatory. Any form of restrictions imposed or threats towards those who refuse the vaccination is an attack on basic human rights.

 

[Giannis]

India's playing the discriminatory card with first world countries when they have no issues discriminating and abusing their power and influence against smaller and less fortunate countries

 

[Tubs]

Discriminatory? Sure. As others have pointed out, many things we accept in society are discriminatory. It's your right not to take a vaccine, but it's also the right of the governments to what to restrict the autonomy of those who who refuse to be vaccinated in a pandemic.

 

[CanadianG00se]

how many countries can you go to in pakistan, as EU do not accept most chinese vaccination bar 1 i believe .

As the pakistan community lives basically in UK/ Canada/US mainly - are the US/CANADA any different to the Eu rule?

Health Canada have approved 4 vaccines
Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Covidshield, & Johnson & Johnson. As per Gov of Canada press release, travellers(non-Canadians, non-PR) will have to be fully vaccinated(either of those 4 vaccines) in order to enter Canada for tourism(whenever border fully opens).

PM Trudeau just recently said that unvaccinated tourists will have to wait quite a while before allowed to enter Canada for non-essential reason.

Lot of people in S. America and Asia have received Chinese vaccine which is not approved in west. It will be interesting to see how things unfold in near future.

 

[CanadianG00se]

I have taken 2 shots of Sinopharm (china vaccine) and considered ok to travel. But then I hear that some European countries may deny entry unless I take Pfizer.
Isn't that discriminatory?

It maybe discriminatory but at the same time every government are responsible for protecting their own citizens. Chinese pharmacies have not published the phase 3 trial data with other countries in order to be widely accepted. In UAE people are now given third dose(Pfizer this time) even after fully vaccinated with Sinopharm.

 

[OMB]

It maybe discriminatory but at the same time every government are responsible for protecting their own citizens. Chinese pharmacies have not published the phase 3 trial data with other countries in order to be widely accepted. In UAE people are now given third dose(Pfizer this time) even after fully vaccinated with Sinopharm.

I am in queue for that third Pfizer dose after takin 2 shots of Sinopharm but they say it more of a vaccine mixing strategy to be some form of immunity booster.

At the same time, I am not permitted to take 2 Pfizer doses and then use it to travel to certain Eu nations or to Canada .

btw, a girl I know has just travelled to Canada last month to join her university education after taking 2 shots of Sinopharm.

 

[Kroll]

I think it is a bit discriminatory, not only due to wealth gap but also due to choice.

There are some regardless of the wealth of a nation that do not want to take the vaccine out of their own free will and basic human rights.

But may be compelled to do so for their own essential travel.

 

[CanadianG00se]

I am in queue for that third Pfizer dose after takin 2 shots of Sinopharm but they say it more of a vaccine mixing strategy to be some form of immunity booster.

At the same time, I am not permitted to take 2 Pfizer doses and then use it to travel to certain Eu nations or to Canada .

btw, a girl I know has just travelled to Canada last month to join her university education after taking 2 shots of Sinopharm.

My wife is in Dubai and I have been vocal from the very beginning that she shouldn’t take Sinopharm or any other Chinese vaccine. She just recently got her Pfizer second dose. She was pressurized so much from her employer to take Sinopharm but we refused. I knew somehow that Canada will not approve such vaccines for travel related purposes.

For the bold part, international students are exempt from travel restrictions, which means even unvaccinated travellers can come to Canada but have to undergo 14 day quarantine including 3 day hotel quarantine. They would be asked to take Pfizer or Moderna vaccines when they come out of quarantine. I know so many colleges and universities will have mandatory vaccination for in-person learning. Quebec recently announced that they will require digital vaccination proof for accessing public places such as libraries and school.

But international tourists will not be allowed to enter Canada if they are not fully vaccinated, that to ones approved by Health Canada.