The Vaxed and the Vaxed-Not

 

We could see this coming a mile off, and now it’s on our doorstep: the concept of vaccination passports: little things we can carry in our wallets or on our phones certifying that we have been fully vaccinated against COVID. They are the keys we may need to admit us to indoor businesses, schools, theaters, or outdoor concerts or sporting events – or even our jobs.

The UK government is actively moving forward with such a plan. In this country, New York has the Excelsior Pass, a phone app that allows people to display their vaccination status. Major retailers, airlines, schools and universities, and other groups are all working on versions of pa

Civil libertarians are already resisting the concept of passports and simply wouldn’t stand for them on a national level. In Florida, the governor is prohibiting businesses from requiring them.

I recognize that I’m speaking from privilege, because I have had my shots, but I’m in favor of the passport idea, even if only on a sub-government level. Business owners, for example, should have the right to determine what’s best for the safety of their clientele and employees. Prohibiting them from doing so seems anti-libertarian to me.

Yes, there is discrimination involved. People who have difficulty getting shots may feel like second-class citizens, but that situation is likely temporary, as we sort out access and supply issues.

What about those who simply refuse to get shots for various reasons, including religious ones? That is their choice, but that choice comes with real-world consequences and restrictions. They may at least need to show proof of a negative COVID test. For those who worry about being included in centralized databases, consider the ones you are already in. Do you have a smartphone or a computer, use social media, carry a driver’s license, or vote?

I think the answer is in the time factor. At some point, there will be an acceptable level of COVID, which will be called herd immunity, and maybe such passports will be unnecessary or secondary, or accepted as part of life. For the moment, though, what other reasonable choice do we really have, if we want to get back to something called normal?