The federal government will not mandate the use of vaccine passports for travelers or businesses after a pandemic, President Biden’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told the Politico Dispatch podcast Monday.
Why it matters: Passports with proof of vaccination could speed up international travel reopenings, but the idea of requiring vaccination credentials has become a point of contention, especially among Republican officials.
- Florida government Ron DeSantis (R) banned the use of vaccine passports in his state on Friday.
What they say“I doubt the federal government will be the main driving force behind a vaccine passport concept,” Fauci said.
- “They may be involved in making sure things are done fairly and justly, but I doubt the federal government will be the leading element in that.”
Fauci noticed that he believes companies or schools can ask for vaccine passports to enter their buildings.
- I’m not saying they should or they should, but I’m saying you could foresee how an independent entity might say, ‘well, we can’t be related to you unless we know you’ve been vaccinated’ , but it will not be imposed by the federal government. “
The big picture: In March, the EU unveiled its proposal for vaccine passports, which allow citizens who can prove they have been vaccinated or have recently tested negative for COVID-19 cross borders without quarantine requirements.