Over half a dozen states against vaccine passports

June 9, 2021 Amber Coakley US 0

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at a news conference where he signed two energy related bills, Tuesday, June 8, 2021, in Austin, Texas. Abbot signed legislation into law to reform the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and weatherize and improve the reliability of the state’s power grid. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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UPDATED 9:36 AM PT – Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Several states have continued to lash out against vaccine passports. This comes as over half a dozen states have already pushed legislation to ban or limit the use of the passports.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) was the latest to sign a bill banning their enforcement on Monday. He said Texas is 100 percent open, but no resident shall be discriminated against based on their vaccination status. The governor also said every single Texan has the freedom to go where they want and when they want without any restrictions.

“No business or government entity can require a person to provide a vaccine passport or any other vaccine information as a condition of receiving any service or entering any place,” Abbott stated. “I want to thank the Texas legislature for getting this bill to my desk.”

The Texas Republican said his state will continue to vaccinate more people without treading on Texans’ personal freedoms.

Texas Covid numbers continue to improve.

* new all-time low in the 7-day positivity rate: 2.81%

* 2 fatalities–only 2 days have had fewer since LAST MARCH

* hospitalizations remain near 13 month lows

Great job, Texans!

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 8, 2021

Meanwhile, Oregon Republicans have also introduced a bill to prevent the state from implementing a vaccine passport system. Last week, state Sen. Kim Thatcher (R-Ore.) introduced the bill, which would prevent public and private entities from refusing service or employment based on possession of a vaccine credential.

“No Oregonian should have to divulge medical information to participate in everyday life,” Thatcher stated. If the bill passes, Oregon would join other states like Texas and Florida.

Some states have not yet decided if they will implement a ban while others, more liberal states, are in favor of the passport system. For example, New York implemented a passport system back in March and Hawaii also launched a platform in May for travelers to upload vaccination data.

The Department of Homeland Security, along with the Biden administration, have also announced there won’t be a federal vaccination database and no mandate requiring proof of being vaccinated.

“The government is not now, nor will we be supporting a system that requires Americans to carry a credential,” confirmed White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

This comes as Wyoming State Rep. Chuck Gray (R) announced Monday that he’s drafting a bill to further strengthen the state’s ban on vaccine passports.