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England vaccine passport plans ditched, health secretary says

bbc.co.uk

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Re: England vaccine passport plans ditched, health secretary says

#2
Note this is specific to England. Other countries in the UK are following their own course -- the Scottish government agreed in principle to introduce vaccine passports as of a week ago and will require them for entry to large venues from October 1st:

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-vaccine-passports-requir...

The NHS is a fully devolved issue, with separate NHS organizations in Wales, England, Northern Ireland, reporting to the devolved parliaments and legislative assemblies, and Scotland, leading to differing outcomes in handling COVID19. Vaccination and COVID19 control is not quite as crazily politicized as it is in the USA, but the conservative (right wing) government in England is handling it rather differently from the SNP/Green (left wing) government in Scotland.

Re: England vaccine passport plans ditched, health secretary says

#4

Good. There is no evidence to support them. You can still transmit the virus whilst double vaccinated. They do not slow spread only hospitalisation.

There is, the number of vaccinations in France jumped remarkably after vaccine passports were made mandatory for cinemas, theatres, restaurants, etc. Considering that's the main goal of such policies, it seems like a success.

And yes, the main point is to limit hospitalisations, because they're the main limiting factor ( at least in France, but probably in most other developed countries as well).

Re: England vaccine passport plans ditched, health secretary says

#5

Good. There is no evidence to support them. You can still transmit the virus whilst double vaccinated. They do not slow spread only hospitalisation.

> You can still transmit the virus whilst double vaccinated. They do not slow spread only hospitalisation.

With the disclaimer that I'm not an expert: that's wrong. The vaccines are extremely efficacious in preventing hospitalisations and deaths, and are moderately efficacious in reducing transmission.

Re: England vaccine passport plans ditched, health secretary says

#6
As they should be, considering that the vaccines do not stop people from getting infected and infecting others. Making sure there are only vaccinated people in a bar does not mean the people inside can’t get infected so this measure does not help achieve that goal.

Re: England vaccine passport plans ditched, health secretary says

#7
post #6

As they should be, considering that the vaccines do not stop people from getting infected and infecting others. Making sure there are only vaccinated people in a bar does not mean the people inside can’t get infected so this measure does not help achieve that goal.

It makes sense if vaccine reduces infection rate.

Re: England vaccine passport plans ditched, health secretary says

#8
post #4

Good. There is no evidence to support them. You can still transmit the virus whilst double vaccinated. They do not slow spread only hospitalisation.

There is, the number of vaccinations in France jumped remarkably after vaccine passports were made mandatory for cinemas, theatres, restaurants, etc. Considering that's the main goal of such policies, it seems like a success. And yes, the main point is to limit hospitalisations, because they're the main limiting factor ( at least in France, but probably in most other developed countries as well).

The same brand of ‘successes’ can be achieved by banning alcohol, tobacco, fast food or whatever vice you want.

Re: England vaccine passport plans ditched, health secretary says

#9
Well, if the large majority of your population is already vaccinated, I guess these passports could potentially be dismissed, if masks are still mandatory, but for some countries - like Portugal where we have +80% of the pop. vaccinated - the main concern are tourists that completely disregard any etiquette or measures in place.

So I think keeping passports is a good measure, not perfect due to breakthrough infections, still better than nothing.

Re: England vaccine passport plans ditched, health secretary says

#10
I'm confused. The NHS app already has QR codes to show proof of vaccination. I've been to public events that required the QR code to get in (though I don't think they scanned it.) You can generate new codes whenever you like and they are valid for 30 days if, for example, you wanted to print it out instead of taking your phone.

Wasn't this the passport scheme?

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