February 2021
Dear Constituent,
Thank you for writing to me about coronavirus vaccines and immunity passports.
I too have read reports about the development of so-called 'Immunity Passports' which could be used to enable people to safely access certain venues. The Government has stated that the priority at the moment is establishing a safe and effective way to roll out the vaccine to all those who need it. While I understand that a range of options are being considered to encourage people to receive the vaccine, the Government will certainly not make the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory.
Once you are in receipt of a vaccine, you will be issued with a card by the NHS, stating the name of the vaccine, as well as the batch number and the date of each dose. However, this should not be considered an immunity passport, and the Government has no plans for the card to be used in this way.
I urge my colleagues across the Government to continue to act in response to the latest research but, in doing so, to remove each and every restriction on our liberty at the earliest reasonable opportunity. The hugely successful roll-out of the vaccine to date is extraordinarily welcome, but we are not yet at the end of the road, and, for the moment, people must continue to comply with the restrictions in place in their area, including when they have received their vaccination.
I have noted your views about the medical freedom bill and will certainly discuss this along with the other issues you have raised with my MP colleagues and with relevant ministers. I do not think that vaccination against the coronavirus should be mandatory and I certainly believe that the default position on all things should be that of individual liberty (where individuals are not harming others, or putting others at identifiable risk, by their actions).
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
With best wishes.
Kind regards,
Jonathan Lord MP
Member of Parliament for Woking