The idea of a vaccine passport divides in France and in Europe
Tests are becoming generalized in European airports (here in Italy), but the question of a health passport is not only popular.
REUTERS - REMO CASILLI
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
While the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus began less than a month ago in Europe, some are pleading for the establishment of a vaccination passport.
This would be a certificate of vaccination against the coronavirus which could be presented before traveling;
even which could be compulsory to access certain places such as restaurants or museums.
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Within the European Union, Greece is the country which most ardently defends the idea of a vaccination certificate, to revive the air traffic and the tourism industry very hard hit by the pandemic - tourism represents a fifth of the Greek gross domestic product.
The country is arguing for a standardized vaccination certificate, which would be mutually recognized by the 27 Member States, and which could be presented before taking the plane or the boat for example.
For the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, it is not a question of making it "
a prerequisite in the event of displacement
", it would not therefore be obligatory, but it would facilitate travel for the vaccinated people.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said she was in favor of such a certificate recognized within the EU while stressing that the rights it could open should be the subject of a discussion at the level European - this question of associated rights is, one suspects, the thorniest.
The subject divides
the Member States
.
For France, it is premature for the moment.
However, it could be discussed at the European Council meeting on Thursday 21 January.
In France, compulsory for certain activities?
The debate took place in France, and it goes further, with this question: could vaccinated people have rights that others would not have, for example going to restaurants or museums, attending concerts or sporting events, or even taking transport?
Some are in favor of it, in particular in the economic sphere.
According to them, this would help revive disaster-stricken business sectors, such as catering or culture;
and those affected could resume a more or less normal life.
On the other hand, for his opponents, this
vaccination passport
is a coercive and discriminatory measure.
This would amount to creating an obligation to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, because it would be impossible to access certain services without this sesame.
However, this vaccine is left to the free choice of individuals.
In addition, the number of people vaccinated is very low, around 420,000 people as of January 17.
Since the vaccination campaign is aimed primarily at the elderly or very fragile and caregivers, the vast majority of the population will not be able, a priori, to receive the injections for several months, again with a staggering according to age. .
Therefore, there is an inequality of access to the vaccine and it could be legally difficult to set up a vaccination passport opening rights to some - not to mention people with a contraindication to the vaccine.
WHO opposes a vaccine passport for travel
Finally, a scientific question remains unanswered for the moment.
Studies have shown that the vaccines from Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna, marketed within the European Union, protect against severe forms of Covid;
on the other hand, proof that they prevent the transmission of the coronavirus has not yet been provided, although it is likely that this is the case, at least partially.
For this reason, but also because vaccines are only available in limited quantities at the moment, the World Health Organization is opposed to
the introduction of a vaccination passport for international travel.
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