Opinion
N the Red
21
Vaccine passports offer solution Documentation of vaccinations could provide return to normalcy Fletcher Haltom
I
haltofle000@hsestudents.org
n the months following the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March of 2020, widespread vaccine availability, once thought to be a distant dream, has become a promising reality. Of course, this availability has brought with it a considerable amount of controversy. Recent discussions regarding “vaccine passports,” forms of documentation that would certify one’s vaccination for COVID-19 and potentially allow access to certain large events, have drawn the ire of critics nationwide. Recently, Indiana Rep. John Jacobs denounced the concept while discussing his support of a bill that would place a ban on them statewide, referring to the passports as a “gross violation of the individual freedom of Hoosiers.” While many critics are wellintentioned and simply seeking to support personal liberties, a large number of the critiques of the theoretical passports are misguided and fail to recognize the true intent behind them. Vaccine passports, also referred to as digital health passports, or DHPs, are a relatively new concept wherein citizens are able to show proof of their vaccination. Most versions in development are virtual, which would allow users to easily show their “passport” upon admittance to a flight, concert, sporting event or another sort of large gathering. As the number of inoculated people around the world rises, it is likely that a greater number of events and gatherings may allow participation only for those who have been vaccinated. This stems from an effort to prioritize public health and avoid unnecessary risks or liabilities. Internationally, several countries, including Mexico, Turkey and the Dominican Republic, have already begun to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test before entry. This is an essential step in regaining standard public practices, and when considering the increased risks that are associated with international travel, it becomes clear why governments would want to safeguard themselves and their citizens against unnecessary dangers to public health. Vaccine passports, in some form, are effective tools for mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring the safety of participants or attendees. They would assist in ensuring the safety of the public and potentially allow for more freedom in regard to concerts or other public events. A common misconception is that government entities at the national or state level will attempt to mandate vaccinations for all citizens. This is untrue; no proposal that drastic has received any legitimate support, if any at all. Furthermore, messages from the White House have made it clear that there are no plans to implement any kind of vaccine passport or mandate on a national level. Such a plan would also require congressional action, which is exceedingly unlikely. Rather, it is more likely that individual guidelines and regulations will be instituted by businesses, schools or even states, who hold the majority of power related to public health decision making. If and when states administer these ordinances, they will,
Graphic by Fletcher Haltom. in all likelihood, be voluntary programs that will respect constitutional freedoms and allow for the reopening of events such as sports games and concerts. In cases relating to the private sector, including some universities and businesses, vaccine requirements for students attending in-person classes are both legal and necessary. In fact, vaccine requirements are not new; HSE schools, in accordance with state law, require students to be vaccinated against 11 diseases, unless a valid religious or medical exemption applies. Furthermore, the Indiana Department of Health has the ability to “expand or otherwise modify the list of communicable diseases that require documentation of immunity,” a step that could be taken in the near future in regard to the COVID-19 vaccine. While there are still questions related to vaccination requirements and vaccine passports that remain unanswered, the guidance from all levels of government, including Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, the Indiana Department of Health, the FDA, and President Joe Biden has been clear: if you are able to, you should get vaccinated against COVID-19. Additionally, vaccine passports are useful tools that could assist greatly in regaining public aspects of life that have been lost. Their implementation would likely be a beneficial measure in the name of public health and safety, potentially offering a return to relative normalcy that has been desired for the past year.
