London (dpa) – An equality watchdog has warned the British government that so-called vaccine passports could lead to unlawful discrimination.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (ECHR) told dpa on Thursday it had sent a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Cabinet stating it was «important to strike the right balance between individual liberty and the rights of others» when easing lockdown restrictions.
The ECHR said that while vaccine passports, which are referred to as «Covid status certificates» by Johnson, could be a proportionate way of relaxing rules for people vaccinated against Covid-19, they also risked excluding groups with low vaccine take-up.
«Our response to the Cabinet Office review on Covid status certificates makes clear they can provide a way of lifting restrictions and safely opening the economy,» a spokesperson for ECHR told dpa, adding that some conditions however needed to be met to follow equality law.
«Parliamentary oversight of a time-limited scheme would make sure that it remains a proportionate way to keep private and public spaces Covid-secure and those who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons have access to exemption documentation.
«Detailed guidance for employers and businesses would also minimise the risk of any discrimination,» they added.
Currently, vaccine passports have not been deployed in Britain but are under discussion.
Johnson said earlier that his government had ethical concerns around using vaccine passports when letting people into certain places due to possible discrimination.
However, he said he recognised vaccination status would be useful for international travel and said «all countries» were looking at it.