Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday banned the use of “vaccine passports” in this southeastern U.S. state, as the European Union moves ahead in talks to create this digital health certificate nearly a month ago let China launch its.
The executive order of the Republican governor prohibits government offices from issuing any document comparable to so-called “vaccine passports” for the purpose of certifying that an individual has been immunized against covid-19.
It also prohibits Florida private companies from requiring their customers to provide any type of document certifying their vaccination or immunity after recovering from the coronavirus.
DeSantis’ order explains that “So-called vaccine passports reduce individual freedom and will harm patient privacy.”
The governor, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump who sounds like a possible presidential candidate, had announced Monday that his state would not force the use of those documents.
“It is completely unacceptable for the government or the private sector to impose the requirement to show a vaccine test in order to simply be able to participate in society in a normal way,” DeSantis said at a press conference at the time.
“If you want to go to the theater, do you have to show that?” He added. “No. We don’t support this”.
His announcement came after the Washington Post reported based on several anonymous sources that the government of Democratic President Joe Biden is working on developing a standardized document – a vaccine passport – to restart life. normal.
Such documents are being discussed globally to show that a person has been immunized against covid-19 and, among other things, to facilitate international travel and revive tourism.
China launched a digital “health passport” on March 9 for this purpose, While the European Commission proposed a week later the creation of a “Digital Green Certificate” to facilitate free movement within the European Union.
Nearly six million people have already received at least one dose of a vaccine in Florida, a state of 21 million people that is economically dependent on tourism.
From Monday, all residents who want to can receive it without a prescription: from 16 the Pfizer and from 18 those of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.