Would people in Sussex be happy to carry a vaccine passport?

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Britain was working with the EU and countries around the world on the issue.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said plans for a "digital green pass" will be set out this month, which would allow people to prove they have been vaccinated or show the results of coronavirus tests.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock

Ms von der Leyen said the digital green pass "should facilitate Europeans' lives".

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesman said: "We have said that we are looking at the issue of vaccine passports.

"As you can expect, DfT (the Department for Transport) will work and do speak to countries across the world in terms of how they may look to introduce passports."

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The spokesman would not pre-empt the outcomes of the UK Government's review.

But "of course you can expect us to speak to the EU and other countries on how they may implement any similar sorts of policies", they added.

The vaccine is not compulsory, but the government is encouraging as many people as possible to have the job to protect against the spread of coronavirus.

Those who are vaccinated currently receive a vaccination card and their medical records are updated.

According to the BBC's political correspondent Damian Grammaticas, a passport feature may be added to the existing NHS app. Though no public announcements have been made on this, the feature could allow people to prove they are at a lower risk of contracting or spreading Covid-19 when visiting pubs and events venues.

But there is opposition to the UK government rolling out any "e-vaccination status/immunity passport to the British public". A petition called "do not rollout Covid-19 vaccine passports" has been signed almost 250,000 times.

The petition is set to run for six months and has a deadline of July 20 this year.

It states: "Such passports could be used to restrict the rights of people who have refused a Covid-19 vaccine, which would be unacceptable."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson

We asked Argus readers if they would be happy to carry a Covid vaccine passport if travelling, or if going out in the UK.

Chrissy Sanders said she was "bothered" by the concept of a vaccine passport, particularly if it was used to decide which people could take part in certain activities or visit specific sites within the UK.

She said: "It bothers me. It bothers me because to cut an entire section of society off from social normality over either a choice not to be vaccinated or simply through lack of opportunity is simply inhuman."

Others stated their support for vaccine passports when travelling internationally, comparing it to the existing need to supply proof of vaccination against yellow fever when entering any country from a yellow fever endemic nation. But, they objected to the need for vaccine passports within the UK.

Louise Fuller said: "If I want to travel somewhere and their requirement is that I’ve been vaccinated then I must make that decision, like if I travelled to Africa and had to have had the yellow fever vaccine for example. If we choose to visit a country we have to respect their decisions.

"What I wouldn’t be happy with is if a pub restaurant wanted a vaccine passport here in the UK. We live in a country where we have a choice, which should remain.

"If people think that to visit a pub, sports match etc. you have to be vaccinated then that should be the same for all vaccinations."

However, there were also plenty of readers who fully supported the concept of a vaccine passport as a way to stop the spread of coronavirus infections.

John Landridge said: "It would be a benefit to all travellers and the country being travelled to. This is a must at this time, and who knows, it might need renewing every year. Let’s get on and get it organised, now."

Desiree Guy added: "Yes, totally happy to have a passport, I’ve had my Covid vaccine, just want to get out of lockdown and get back to some type of normality."

And Dani Johnston said she was "absolutely" in favour of the introduction of vaccine passports.

She said: "Far too many people only concerned about themselves and forget that by having the vaccine you are protecting others in your community, for example those that can't have it for medical reasons.

"Restaurants, bars and clubs, airlines, airports etc. may want proof that you have been vaccinated before they allow you to enter so they can ensure the safety of their staff and customers.

"Personally I don't have a problem with that. In fact, I hope they insist on it if it keeps those I care about safe."