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- Vaccine Passports — No Thanks!
Vaccine Passports could put the fight against discrimination back thirty years and should be opposed — particularly by unions and those on the left. (updated 22 Dec 21)
Before I start, let’s be absolutely clear — I’m completely in favour of people getting the vaccine — I’m fully boosted. I’m also in favour of necessary containment and lock down measures and support the extension of mask mandates. But I am opposed to the idea of ‘vaccine passports’, as are notable figures on the left such as Corbyn and his former colleagues on the left of the Labour Party, and trade unionists. But how does this make sense, and why would I seem to ally myself with the anti-vax and other factions of the far right on this issue?
A vaccine passport would be either a physical or electronic document, associated with your identity and with necessarily incorporated anti-fraud measures, that would indicate your current vaccine status. It is argued that they could very easily reopen the economy and international travel, and make workplaces safer. Mass vaccination is of intrinsic societal benefit, and so why would anyone oppose it — especially those on the Left who believe in social responsibility and the greater good?
Given that even the vaccinated can transmit the virus, what purpose is served by mandating that people declare their vaccination status, or worse, have to get vaccinated…
