The European Commission will present a legislative proposal to create a digital passport that will make it possible to resume travel by proving vaccination or the recovery of citizens.
The president of the community executive, Ursula von der Leyen, made the announcement on Twitter and said that the European Commission will “present this month a legislative proposal for a digital free pass”.
“The objective is to provide evidence that a person has been vaccinated, test results for those who have not yet managed to obtain a vaccine and information on the recovery of Covid-19”, said the official, thus following up on the intention that has been being discussed several weeks ago in the European Union (EU).
Ursula von der Leyen also guaranteed that this digital certificate “will respect data protection, security and privacy”.
The Minister of Health, Marta Temido, has stressed that the vaccine passport, will allow the “return to normality” of European citizens “in the best possible conditions ”.
“Today, more than ever, a common approach is needed regarding the movements of our citizens with security”, said Marta Temido.
Asked what information will be available on this digital instrument, Marta Temido explained that “it is clear that one of the aspects that such a document may refer to is the vaccination status” of the citizens, that is, “the circumstance that the person has or has not already been vaccinated”.
“But you can mention other important information, for example, about the circumstance that the person has already undergone a test [for diagnosis of Covid-19] and the result of that test or information about whether the person has already had Covid-19 or not. ”, she added.
For the minister, this digital vaccine passport is an “important tool” that will allow citizens to “face a world where Covid-19 circulates as a disease” but where it is intended “to return to normality (...) in the best possible conditions”.
European Commission Executive Vice-President Margaritis Schinas stressed, however, that it is not possible to provide information on the final project of this proposal, which will be formally presented by the community executive on 17 March.
Schinas explained that the concept of this “European product” will have a “strong digital component”, in which information will be available “such as vaccination [against Covid-19] or not, test results, recovery, safety issues, data privacy legislation and all necessary security requirements.
“We are aware of the enormous efforts and sacrifices that the European population is making at the moment. We know that they carry a huge burden on their shoulders, and we want to lighten that burden, we want to safely organise the opening of the European Union “, stressed the Executive Vice President.
European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, underlined that the EU is waiting for “an increase in production” of vaccines against Covid-19.
“To date, 33 million doses have been administered, and at least 11 million Europeans have already been vaccinated”, she pointed out, then guaranteeing that the European Commission is working “to establish contacts with companies to try to increase vaccine capacity”.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister António Costa has said he hopes that the vaccine passport will be in place by the summer. This comes as the Ministry of Health reported that the country’s Covid-19 vaccination rollout is above the average pace in the EU. At the time of going to press, the ministry said Portugal has administered 7.5 doses per 100 inhabitants, compared to the EU average of 6.83.
They are now vaccinating a virus that models the common cold that has been mutating for generations. They will want twice a year injections at least for all family members. Have you noticed there are no reported flu deaths anymore. The COVID passport is their device to enforce pharmaceutical corporations on the population. These injections use new technology. What if in a few years all the injected population have severe immune reactions or cancers?
I will not be getting my family injected, and expect the government to severely start discriminating against anyone who refuses the vaccine once they have reported over 50% is vaccinated. Unfortunately politicians are not to be believed. My country is run by Boris Johnson who has been removed from various positions for repeated lying. The politicians are certainly not working for the general population but the elite that includes people like Bill Gates and the banking families.
By Michael Wayne Knight from UK on 05 Mar 2021, 03:22
With a vaccine proven to be more life threatening than the virus itself what is she smiling about ? !
Go to Hell !
By Louis Peters from Lisbon on 05 Mar 2021, 09:14
Big pharma and governments in the same bed; what could possibly go wrong.
By Pedro from Lisbon on 05 Mar 2021, 09:29
Time for a revolt !
Enough is enough of this farce !
Sick and tired of being lied to by our politicians !
You can stuff this passport down your back side !
By Ricardo Santos from Porto on 05 Mar 2021, 09:30
These wannabe-dictators just ignore the fact that a big part of the (young and healthy) doesn't want or need that poison. Just vaccinate the vulnerable ones just like you do with the seasonal flu. Leave the rest alone or there will be civil unrest. Guaranteed.
By Fred Doe from Algarve on 05 Mar 2021, 10:45
Every comment listed I commend ! This is so clearly wrong & against human rights, PEOPLE PEOPLE WAKE UP BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
By Marie from Other on 05 Mar 2021, 10:46
I have yet to see a tourist initiative that Portugal does not like! Anything to bolster a failing economy run by incompetent beaurcrats.
By Stuart from Algarve on 05 Mar 2021, 11:08
It is evident that people are fed up of being lied to from what in essence is nothing more than a seasonal flu. Get the vaccine for what ? To protect us from a virus that has a 99.7% survival rate ? Or to risk dying from the poison pumped into our veins by a vaccine that is still in its experimental phase ?
And to now be told that our basic rights to freedom will be taken away from us unless we sign up for this joke of a passport.
2+2 does NOT equal 5 so don’t make it otherwise !!
To conclude Marta Temido stop treating us as stupid !!
Enough of your cr** !!
Go take a hike !!
By Jose. P from Other on 05 Mar 2021, 12:20
Costa hopes that the vaccine passport will be in place by the summer, good news for all the so-called elite and their families who jumped the vaccine queue and will now be able to jet off to their villa's in various tax havens.
By Greg from Other on 05 Mar 2021, 12:40
... so as new versions take off will we need a passport with coupons? impotent bureaucrats trying poorly to justify their uselessness.
By richard h from Beiras on 05 Mar 2021, 13:28
Some bizarre comments here! People should remember that being vaccinated against a highly contagious disease, which has caused huge economic, social and emotional damage across the world, is not a question of individual choice but a matter of social responsibility. We need to achieve herd immunity; the level for Covid is probably arpund 90%. It's impossible to reach that by only vaccinating the most vulnerable. It's up to all of us have the vaccine (which, by the way, is perfectly safe). I fully support the vaccine passport plan, so long as those few people who are genuinely unable to have the vaccine for medical reasons are not discriminated against .
By Felix from UK on 05 Mar 2021, 13:48
You, and van der Leyden, are slow on the facts. NEVER MIND THE DICTATORIAL "TWEETING" . A leader in a democracy is expected to listen first, and then draws a conclusion. This is getting close to dictatorial behaviour.
On 28/1/2021 the relevant commission decided that there can NO OBLIGATION for Europeans for ANY VACCINATION (OR TOXINATION.)
(Try to) Find the Resolution 2362 of 28/1/2021.
The Scam-demic is over.
By Rolf from Algarve on 05 Mar 2021, 15:29
No healthy person will arrive as a tourist if this is implemented. Every mentally healthy person will stay home and arm themselves to the teeth to protect themselves against their own insane tyrants in their own counties that are trying to come and force them to take part in a medical human experiment.
By Kari Lehto from Other on 06 Mar 2021, 18:12
Key to "Normalcy"?
What "Normalcy" is that?
Forcing people to give up personal information to multinational corporations?
Giving incentives and extorting people to take part in medical experiments against Nuremberg laws on human experiments?
By Kari Lehto from Other on 07 Mar 2021, 12:36
The only way out of this mess at a speed which countries' citizens expect, is for countries to protect their national health services through vaccination. If we did not vaccinate, we would be stuck in this cycle for ten years or more. And I am sure none of the anti-vaxxers on here would like that either. Everything comes with risks, and we should think ourselves lucky that this virus isn't as nearly as deadly as it could be. Respect nature, and respect medical science. And between the two we shall live as peacefully as we can. The human race is more fragile than you think.
By Chris Ward from UK on 08 Mar 2021, 16:35
She's a total idiot as are a lot of corrupt people vested in the covid scam. There is a LOT of money involved. And it seems most politicians and medical people are liars. surprise!!!!
Covid allows them to own you.
By rod from USA on 30 Apr 2021, 14:04
If you allow this to happen, there is no turning back. There will be no future for your children.
By Latoysha Adams from USA on 30 Apr 2021, 14:43