The government will not be requiring Americans to carry a COVID-19 vaccine credential, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.
“The government is not now, nor will we be supporting a system that requires Americans to carry a credential. There will be no federal vaccinations database and no federal mandate requiring everyone to obtain a single vaccination credential,” Psaki said during her Tuesday press briefing.
She claimed the government’s interest is in Americans’ privacy and rights “so that these systems are not used against people unfairly.”
Psaki mentioned the “movement” in the private sector to “identify ways that they can return to events” with a large number of people.
The press secretary indicated the government will be releasing guidance in the form of an FAQ – frequently asked question- “that provides important answers to questions that Americans have, in particular around concerns about privacy, security or discrimination.”
Watch part of Psaki’s press briefing below:
.@PressSec Jen Psaki on possibility of the federal government supporting vaccine passports: "The government is not now, nor will we be supporting a system that requires Americans to carry a credential."
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 6, 2021
Full video here: https://t.co/TLFF718hVo pic.twitter.com/jJP0Ph95jH
Several governors have voiced their opposition to vaccine passports. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) tweeted, “I do NOT support a vaccine passport and have no intention of implementing one in the State of Missouri.”
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) said Monday, “I have no interest in vaccine passports. We will not be issuing those under my authority.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed an executive order on Friday banning COVID-19 passports.
“Individual Covid-19 vaccination records are private health information and should not be shared by a mandate,” the executive order says.
Earlier last week DeSantis called it “unacceptable” for “either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply be able to participate in normal society.”
