On Monday, the TV personality Dr. Drew Tweet his opposition to Coronavirus disease The vaccine passport said: “These vaccine passports isolate people and deprive them of freedom to travel abroad. Vaccination is very important and I encourage everyone to get the Covid vaccine, but if international travel also requires other vaccinations, how would you feel? ?”

Tuesday, He went back -But for thousands of people on Twitter, this seems like a good question.

It is not.

Although the vaccine passport has become the latest hot spot for COVID-19 PandemicMost people already have some form of documentation to prove that they have been vaccinated against certain diseases. Many public health experts say that such evidence is essential to prevent future COVID-19 outbreaks while returning to normal life.

Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University, told BuzzFeed News: “People have suffered for more than a year and they want their lives to be reborn.” “They want to go to restaurants, watch movies, Travel to see relatives and then return to the workplace. Vaccine passports provide people with a faster and safer way to return to normal life.”

With the widespread distribution of vaccines, the prospect of a COVID-19 vaccine passport has become a reality for many people.European Union May be launched in June. Israel, which one Leading power Among the vaccines administered so far, one has been introduced. China also has one.Britain is debating Own version. New York State has introduced a voluntary “Excelsior Pass“, which means that you have obtained a vaccination certificate or a negative test for participation in sports events, music venues and commercial activities. At least Eight major airlines Working on the version of the coronavirus passport Walmart.

more than 64 million peopleSo far, one in five Americans has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

But the federal government-including Anthony FauciSo far, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, he has made it clear that It does not lead to effort Present your national vaccine passport.Instead, it is Work to the corral The private sector is developing more than ten versions.

Many Republican leaders are wary of such measures, believing that it will constitute excessive government intervention. On Friday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (Ron DeSantis) Sign executive orders It is forbidden to use the COVID-19 vaccination passport in this state. On Sunday, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (Tate Reeves) Tell CNN He also opposed them. On Tuesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined in.

Howard Markel, a pediatrician and medical historian, told BuzzFeed News: “Passports are a good idea.” “How to politicize it is very disturbing, and it is difficult for people in public health to understand.”

Politicization has had a real impact.A recent poll found Only 50% of U.S. residents Voluntary documents will be supported to verify vaccination status.

In the United States, this debate is a repetition of those debates in many respects. locking with Contact tracking. Should the American people accept restrictions on personal freedom in the name of public health?Will these Temporary measures will stay long after they are needed? Will people’s privacy be protected? But the idea of ??a vaccine passport is nothing new: the United States already has a patchwork of private and public institutions that require people to prove that they have been vaccinated.

“We have kept vaccination records in our medical records. Schools keep children’s records. Many hospitals leave them to employees. These should be familiar.”

To travel abroad, many people already have to prove that they have been vaccinated. To enter the United States, immigrants must provide a record of vaccination against the disease- 14 in total -Including hepatitis A and B, two types of influenza, polio and chickenpox.Records are kept at Brochure issued by the World Health Organization. U.S. Armed Forces, Its members are spread all over the world, and depending on the location of the deployed personnel, about a dozen vaccines are needed.

In order for the child to enroll, a vaccination certificate is also required In all 50 states.In Florida, where DeSantis is the governor, vaccinations are required for children from kindergarten to 12th grade Six diseases. California with Texas Each requires seven. Since the school’s vaccination requirements are handled at the state level, No federal authorization – Many states allow Personal beliefs or religious exemptions that the parents opted out of.California is one of the states that cancelled such exemptions after tax exemptions Dangerous measles outbreak The film that was staged at Disneyland in 2015 set a box office record in the state.

As long as there is a vaccine, public health officials require people to prove that they have been vaccinated. As the historian Jordan E. Taylor wrote in Time magazineBeginning in the 19th century, American authorities have forced people to prove that they have been vaccinated against smallpox. Immigration officials demanded vaccinations on Ellis Island in New York and Angel Island in San Francisco. Companies use it as a condition of employment. During a local outbreak, the police will ask people to prove that they have been vaccinated.

Vaccine passports are indeed worrying.Some people worry about their Digital rights or Invasion of privacy. But Godin, Co-authored a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association Regarding possible ethical issues, it is said that the vaccine passport will contain very little information. “Vaccine passports can protect your privacy in many ways. They don’t ask you to disclose any information unless you are vaccinated,” he wrote.

So far, others have expressed doubts about the fairness of requesting a vaccination certificate in the United States Black and Latino communities The vaccination rate is extremely low. Experts attach great importance to this, but suggest that with the widespread use of vaccines, these concerns will be reduced.

Gostin said: “Fairness is not an afterthought.” “In the absence of vaccines, we cannot have passports. Within a month or two, vaccines will catch up with people, not the other way around. Everyone can get it fairly. .”

Public health experts emphasize that if people are not sure that vaccine passports are understandable, they are encouraged to talk to healthcare providers when in doubt.

“My suggestion is to consult your doctor or the website of the WHO or CDC,” Markel said. “Have a good conversation with your doctor. We don’t want to bully people.”