Airline Body IATA to Launch COVID-19 Travel Passport App in April

[hans1972]

This is a very bad idea for many reasons.

- - -

This idea gives the government the means to choose which groups they favor for participation in travel commerce based on whatever arbitrary set of metrics they can make sound half-reasonable. It is a huge amount of freedom to cede to the government and it will certainly be abused by bad faith government types around the world.

None of these things are new. These kind of passports are just electronic versions so you don't have to take with you papers.

Many countries already have these restrictions on travel today. It is just easier to show your smartphone than dragging with you papers showing you have been vaccinated.

It is like an electronic driver license, except for vaccines.

 

[dwd3885]

This is completely ridiculous. Push back people. It isn't going to end here.

 

[iGeneo]

This is about international air travel. Those who oppose vaccines, masks and social distancing, they don't do international air travel, except perhaps to Cancun.

Correct… they can enjoy the Grand Canyon.

 

[iGeneo]

This is completely ridiculous. Push back people. It isn't going to end here.

Push back on what? This is a private business

 

[hans1972]

A lot of folks in this thread never heard of needing a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate to enter many countries, I guess.

More than 55% of Americans don't have a passport and thus very little experience in international air travel.

 

[Gasu E.]

Then you're a boomer


/s

Pretty much all Boomers have smartphones. Many Gen Z don’t know what a Boomer is.

Now, if this had been a mention of Tik Tok, etc. you would be spot on. Boomers don’t go for short-attention span stuff.

 

[firewood]

Thing will get really interesting legally when some countries make a vaccine passport illegal (for privacy reasons, or “rights”), and other countries make it required for entry (for public health department requirements). Or the same situation for U.S. states or counties or school districts, etc.

 

[lenard]

Just what we all need, don't want to be sitting next to an unknown person claiming its just a cold and turn out they were in full blown Covid-19.

 

[subi257]

Pretty much all Boomers have smartphones. Many Gen Z don’t know what a Boomer is.

Now, if this had been a mention of Tik Tok, etc. you would be spot on. Boomers don’t go for short-attention span stuff.

True, most of them don't.....though I know a few that hate them, curse at them and threaten to shoot them 🤣 There are some boomers that are short attention span people....me 😂 I have no attention span...never did and I guess I won't ever.

 

[Gasu E.]

Proving you've been vaccinated is the convention for air travel, getting into schools, joining the military, etc. I don't think many people would have a problem with that.

Proving you're vaccinated to get into a movie theater, a club or a dining establishment is *not* conventional in the United States up to this point and there are all kinds of equity issues that surround such a massive shift. I don't think we can be glib and say, "Well, do it or stay home". This current vaccine is free and will soon be available to all but future vaccines or boosters may not be. This indeed represents a restriction on people's freedom who cannot get a shot in the future.

This all may be overblown, and eventually it will only be required for travel but if it does expand as a requirement to everyday life then this needs to be very carefully considered. These are the types of issues that lead to extreme social reactions if we aren't careful.

I don’t see any indication that there will be a general vaccine mandate by the US Federal government, except for international border crossings (which are already highly regulated, with Republicans always demanding even more regulation) and some sets of government employees. I do see requirements imposed by state and local government, as well as certain companies and industry groups, for employees and people who want to use some of their services. Note that there is no national mask mandate.

 

[mzeb]

Stupid. Whether or not I’ve had the vaccine is nobody’s business but mine.

You are half correct. It is nobody's business until you might affect their rights.
We all have the right to life and happiness in this country and you willingly put those rights at risk for someone else and they choose to care. It is the same as masks. If a business requires it that means they are choosing to protect these rights for their employees and you must comply with their wishes. If not it doesn't matter and the decision the becomes each employees' decision to work for that business.
And here is the other bit about rights. It is NOT if YOU believe you are putting them at risk it is if THEY believe that you are putting them at risk. This country was built on protecting others' rights before our own and we need to remember to practice that.

 

[w5jck]

Stupid. Whether or not I’ve had the vaccine is nobody’s business but mine.

I totally disagree! If you go around crowds of people, those venues should have the right to protect all of their patrons. Your rights are not more important than the rights of the many.

 

[Td1970]

None of these things are new. These kind of passports are just electronic versions so you don't have to take with you papers.

Many countries already have these restrictions on travel today. It is just easier to show your smartphone than dragging with you papers showing you have been vaccinated.

It is like an electronic driver license, except for vaccines.

No it’s not.

 

[Gasu E.]

Thing will get really interesting legally when some countries make a vaccine passport illegal (for privacy reasons, or “rights”), and other countries make it required for entry (for public health department requirements). Or the same situation for U.S. states or counties or school districts, etc.

Countries already require vaccines for entry. It’s called “border control“. I don’t know your particular politics, but I find it ironic that some of the same people who rail that “the other side wants open borders” , seem to argue for borders to be completely porous for COVID-19.

 

[firewood]

Stupid. Whether or not I’ve had the vaccine is nobody’s business but mine.

Many shopkeepers think it’s their business to discourage people from entering their shop and killing off their customers and employees. Some have metal detectors at the door to lessen the likelihood of mass shootings. Some will check for vaccinations instead of installing 14 day quarantine airlocks at every doorway.

Or not. But Many potential customers will just start avoiding locales and businesses where mass showings were allowed to occur. Perhaps the same will happen for businesses that allow unvaccinated carriers to wander in.

Other businesses will be just fine allowing open carry. Choose your place to shop.

 

[DeanL]

People who predicted this a year ago were called "conspiracy theorists". Welcome to the future where your freedom is a thing of the past. They like to call it "the new normal"

In case you missed it: entering another country isn't a freedom.

 

[fourthtunz]

I’ll do my thing and what I’m comfortable with and you do what’s best for you.

Well that's kind of the point. I'm not wearing masks and getting the vaccine just for me.
I take care of a man with downs and my 81 year old mother AND I'd like for them not to get it.
I go to a pub where everyones wearing a mask and have not contracted it yet so I guess the masks work.
What does being comfortable have to do with any of this? And what do you mean by what is best for you?
Not wearing a mask or getting vaccinated? By the way, I don't usually get vaccinations because of the mercury.
The covid vaccine does not have the mercury as a preservative by the way.

 

[fourthtunz]

Someone have to be completely blind to not see where this is taking us. Basically, pretty soon our freedoms could be something we are allowed to practice only in our private space (home). It is true, fear is the greatest weapen of all times for controling people. It truly works.

Ok, what is your solution to all of this?

 

[fourthtunz]

Ha. And all you plebs thought this was about curing a viral infection. Fools! It's all about increased social control, monitoring, and punishment for all the sheep. Mask up, take this injection, shut up, and present your papers! Now!

Heh ok I watch Alex Jones too and he's been right about some things.
So what do you propose we are supposed to do to get things back to normal?

 

[CJ Dorschel]

Vaccine passports have been around for a long time. Anyone who has traveled internationally has to have updated vaccines required by the country they are traveling to. Various nations require vaccines. I travel - or rather traveled pre-pandemic - extensively and vaccines for tetanus, MMR, Hep-A, Hep-B, Typhoid, etc are required. This is just adding SARS-CoV-2 to the list.

The CDC and WHO have long had information for travelers on what vaccines are necessary before you are allowed to enter a country. I was working in Bali and South Korea in late 2019 and had to update my Hep-A vaccine.

This isn't a requirement - if you don't want the vaccine then you can't travel to certain nations that will require it. Stay home. No conspiracy. Just basic science and precautions.

Travelers' Health | CDC

Official U.S. government health recommendations for traveling. Provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

wwwnc.cdc.gov

 

[fourthtunz]

The fact that you don’t get as sick, or sick at all, means you’re both a lot less contagious and for a lot less time, as your body and your inmediate surroundings don’t get filled with the virus replicating in your respiratory system. Additionally, you won’t stress the health care system by not requiring scarce hospital beds, oxygen, transportation, specially if you’re travelling abroad.

Remember, even if you pay for private insurance, it is still just an insurance, there’s always an associated cost for the collective tax payer and public at large when you have to be taken to a hospital. The cost is never 100% covered by private actors.

Yes a good point! So far I have not seen any solutions from the people that just complain about
all of this. Those of us that have people to take care of, wear masks and get the vaccination
are just sheeple to them. Evidently these people do not have anyone in their lives or go out of their
homes? I've seen plenty of them end up in the hospital where they burden the system
AND THEn they become believers! Too late.

 

[Goodeye]

you don’t want to comply? That’s fine, you’re not entitled to air travel, movie theaters, dining establishments, live performance venues. They’re largely private businesses. No shirt no service? Just as legal as requiring proof of serologic protection.

Exactly. How many of these folks think it's ok that businesses can decide not to bake a cake for a couple? Yet a business demanding them to wear a mask to shop there or proof of vaccination before you can board their flight to ensure you're not a risky disease vector? Then all hell breaks loose.

It's hypocritical.


And it's been discussed here ad nauseam for anyone who's traveled internationally outside of the US or from elsewhere to the US (US folks, Canada and Mexico don't count) are VERY FAMILIAR with how vaccine passports work. All this is, is digitizing the process already in place. Due to this global pandemic way more people will experiance this process of needing to prove they are vaccinated. In the US will this become the thing for awhile? Sure but I suspect it'll die down once the pandemic is officially over and the rate of infections dies down at a huge rate, which will only happen if enough people become vaccinated.

 

[cardfan]

Doesn't really matter what you think. If you want things to be less of a headache for yourself later, get the shot. If you want to continue to be a nutjob, don't.

 

[fourthtunz]

Yes, like everything in life it comes down to money and law suits......which make people money....so it all comes down to money.

thats one way to look at it. But what about getting life back to normal?
How do we do this with this continual circle jerk of people getting and spreading this?
I got the vaccine for many reasons but also I want to get on a plane and go somewhere warm!
I got the vaccination so I won't get it but also so I won't give it.
Are you saying you'd get on a plane and not worry if they don't have some kind of
vaccination policy?

 

[Killerbob]

LMFAO - this is EXACTLY the right thing to do... The idiots that do not want the vaccine can just stay the f... at home - I for sure will not travel alongside them...