Sir, – A “vaccination passport” is a proof of vaccination – and nothing else. Like all other passports, it entitles the bearer to nothing; whoever it is presented to decides its significance.
In the last week, German chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz and a host of other European leaders have supported the introduction of a vaccine passport.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil, “I see the advantage in people being able to prove they’ve had the vaccine and/or that they’ve tested negative. I know that we have an immunisation document ready that people will get with a QR code on it to show that they have been immunised.”
The HSE, and ultimately the State, is the sole vaccine provider in Ireland. If I have been vaccinated, and wish to demonstrate proof of that fact, I will need some document, most likely electronic, to show my status. I can get this document only from some Government department. There is no alternative.
I hope that someone somewhere has been told this and charged with developing the process for providing such a passport. The alternative will be an unholy mess in a few months as increasing numbers request this passport, only to be told that it is not yet available.
Now is the time to act, but I would not be too optimistic. – Yours, etc
JOHN O’KEEFFE,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.