Vaccine passports set for use at mass events in England

Domestic vaccination passports are set to be introduced for large events in England this summer, according to government officials briefed on the discussions.

Under the plans, proof of vaccine certification, stored on the NHS contact tracing app, may be used for events of more than 1,000 people once the UK enters the next and final stage of its road map out of lockdown on June 21, when premises such as nightclubs are set to be reopened.

There has been some uncertainty over whether a domestic vaccine passport scheme would be adopted in England, with some arguing they would prove exclusionary to the young and minority groups. Others have questioned whether they have a clear public health value.

Those in favour of the proposal note that the pass will allow proof of a recent negative Covid-19 test or prior infection from the virus as alternatives to vaccination, preventing discrimination.

Legislation of some form is believed to be needed to allow a mandated domestic passport scheme to be brought in, and any such legislative move would have to be voted on in parliament.

The government will soon move into the second phase of its evaluation of large events and the role of digital certification at a total of up to 10 events before June 21 — possibly including Royal Ascot on June 15. For those unvaccinated, a rigorous testing regime will be required.

An individual briefed on the plans said phase 2 trials would include events with greater capacity to find “cracks in the system” and ensure “we are fully ready for the summer”. Some of the trials will include venues operating at full capacity.

A formal announcement on phase 2 of the trials is expected next week, which will include a mixture of events such as sports and music. One government insider said, “the phase 2 trials will be bigger and better. We want to get crowds back safely in higher numbers.”

One senior Whitehall figure said: “The first phase of the trials has gone very well and it’s almost certain that vaccine certification will be required for large events.” The official added that passports for pubs and restaurants “have been ruled out”.

Another Whitehall figure said that although no final decision had been taken, “our focus has been on big events and higher capacity venues.”

A Government spokesperson said: “Covid-status certification could have an important role to play both domestically and internationally, as a temporary measure.

“It could potentially play a role in opening up higher-risk settings safely and would take into account a recent negative test, vaccination or natural immunity.”

But one government insider involved with the scheme hinted that use of passports may be widened if the UK suffers from a third coronavirus wave later this year. “It may be that certification has a role to play in other venues to stop closures in the autumn or winter if there’s a big surge.”

As of this week, the digital passport has been used to enable international travel, with individuals in England able to log into the NHS app and access a portal with their Covid-19 vaccine status.

André Rogaczewski, chief executive of Netcompany, the Danish company developing the Covid passport system for the UK, Denmark and Sweden, said “everything is working as planned and that’s pretty cool”.

“What is really good is that co-ordination between countries is happening at the moment, and it’s happening at a high pace,” he said. “All of the technologies from different countries will end up working together nicely.”

Netcompany received a contract worth up to £3.1m in November from The Department of Health and Social Care to develop the Covid certification scheme.

Meanwhile, Public Health England’s latest nationwide survey of coronavirus said outbreaks of coronavirus had risen 59 per cent in a week, although the national level of the disease fell.

PHE also reported that real world data suggested two doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine reduced symptomatic disease by up to 90 per cent, higher than reported in clinical trials. The report added that vaccination had prevented 13,000 deaths from Covid-19.