The federal government will not make vaccine passports a mandatory post-pandemic requirement for travelers or businesses. That’s according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical adviser.
Appearing on the Politico Dispatch podcast, Fauci addressed the issue of vaccine passports, which have become a highly controversial topic as the vaccination rollout continues to gain momentum. His comments seemed to throw water on the idea that requiring proof of vaccination to travel is being kicked around the White House.
“I doubt that the federal government will be the main mover of a vaccine passport concept.”
Fauci also added that the government may step in to make sure things are run fairly and puts everyone on a level playing field, but doubted it would run point on any type of vaccine passport. If this is the official White House policy on the passports, it could be a way to diffuse what’s quickly becoming another hot-button topic. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis turned vaccine passports into a political issue when he signed an executive order banning the state from issuing them.
There are some who think proof of vaccination could help hasten the return of international travel. The European Union is considering a vaccine passport that would allow those who can prove they’ve been vaccinated to enter a country without having to go through quarantine.
Dr. Fauci also noted that he believes businesses and schools in the U.S. may require some type of proof of vaccination to allow people inside buildings. If that does occur, he said, it would not be from a government-issued directive.
