Health Minister calls for Vaccine Certification

THE Health Minister Robin Swann, has implored the rest of the Executive to approve a vaccine certification program be introduced in the North.

The UUP MLA has said, “I want a domestic vaccine certification scheme to be in place, on the books, available for use as soon as necessary. It is regrettable that the Executive has yet to agree a policy position on this. I wrote to Executive Ministers as far back as April 22 2021 asking for this matter to be taken forward by TEO through the creation of a cross departmental working group.

“We have waited for the Covid-19 Task Force to pick up the ball and run with this. It is central to the Task Force’s entire purpose charting a pathway out of restrictions.

“It is important to note that the parties that have been most vocal in recent days advocating for the introduction of domestic use certification had until then also shown no actual interest in helping me to pursue a policy decision. How that tallies with their public pronouncements of recent days is a matter for them to explain.”

There has been some opposition to the Health Minister’s plans to introduce vaccine passports.

DUP MLA Paul Frew has been a vocal opponent of any form of certification.

The North Antrim MLA said on social media, “The Health Minister quotes figures of Covid-19 cases comparing now and April to justify Vaccine Certification to discriminate or deny access to a section of our community.

“He gives no direct link or any scientific health evidence to suggest discrimination of this manner would reduce cases.”