Vaccine passport plan scrapped in England with PM to reveal winter Covid plan

The government has scrapped plans to introduce vaccine passports for nightclub entry in England, with the prime minister soon to announce a plan for managing Covid-19 this winter.

Health secretary Sajid Javid told the BBC on Sunday that ministers had decided against the scheme.

The apparent U-turn came a week after vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi announced vaccine passports would be introduced in England by the end of September.

Javid said: "Many people instinctively don't like the idea. I‘ve never liked the idea of saying to people you must show your papers or something to do what is an everyday activity.

"What I can say is we've looked at it properly and while we can keep it in reserve as a potential option, I'm pleased to say we'll not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports."

This week Boris Johnson is to hold a press conference setting out the government's autumn and winter plan for managing Covid.

This is expected to include a vaccination booster programme and repealing powers it deems no longer necessary from the Coronavirus Act in England, such as the power to close down sectors of the economy, apply restrictions to events or gatherings, or to close schools.

Johnson said: "Thanks to the efforts of the public, the NHS and our phenomenal vaccination programme, we reached step four in our roadmap and life has returned to a sense of normality.

"These extraordinary times required necessary but intrusive measures. But I'm determined to get rid of any powers we no longer need because of our vaccine defences. I will set out the next phase in our Covid response shortly."

Last week the Scottish government voted to introduce vaccine passports for entry into nightclubs, music festivals and some football grounds from 1 October.

Photo: flickr – number10gov