Covid 19 Vaccine Certification

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Mar 2021 Closed: 28 Sep 2021 Parliament page
The Government have announced a review into introducing a Covid vaccine and status certificate system or "vaccine passports". The Committee have launched an inquiry to consider potential ethical, legal and operational issues and the efficacy and appropriateness of a certificate system. Read the call for evidence for more details about … Read more
15 Recommendations
2 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
10 Letters
3 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
9 Sep
2021
Report published
15 Jul
2021
Correspondence
6 Jul
2021
Correspondence
6 Jul
2021
Correspondence
12 Jun
2021
Report published
10 Jun
2021
Correspondence
27 May
2021
Oral evidence
24 May
2021
Oral evidence
13 May
2021
Correspondence
13 May
2021
Correspondence
13 May
2021
Correspondence
13 May
2021
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
27 May 2021
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Covid 19 Vaccine Certification
Dr Susan Hopkins · UK Health Security Agency Kathy Hall · Department of Health and Social Care Rt Hon Michael Gove MP · The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
24 May 2021
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Covid 19 Vaccine Certification
Bill Bush · Premier League Emma McClarkin · British Beer and Pub Association Professor Judith Breuer Professor Melinda Mills Professor Peter Openshaw · Imperial College London Professor Trish Greenhalgh Richard Jordan · Richard Jordan Productions
23 Mar 2021
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Covid 19 Vaccine Certification
Professor Jonathan Wolff Rt Hon David Davis MP Silkie Carlo
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Covid-Status Certification HC 42 12 Jun 2021 17 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
17 results
1 Conclusion Not Addressed
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
It is clear that the idea of certificates has been under consideration within government for...
It is clear that the idea of certificates has been under consideration within government for at least six months. Ministers and officials have given conflicting statements on the possibility of certification being introduced as a measure, and on the extent … Read more
Government Response
The government responds by committing to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny for certification's wider application and states that the legislative approach will be set out in due course, but does not address the committee's concern about past conflicting statements and damage to public trust.
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2 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
It is imperative that if a Covid-status certification system is to be introduced, the Government...
It is imperative that if a Covid-status certification system is to be introduced, the Government publishes the criteria against which the efficacy of that system is to be assessed, together with a clear statement and explanation of whether or not … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need to measure and assess public health interventions, references existing reports and SAGE findings, and states it will monitor the application of any scheme, but does not commit to publishing specific efficacy assessment criteria or a clear statement on satisfaction of those criteria.
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3 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
It is also essential that a cost-benefit analysis is carried out and made public alongside...
It is also essential that a cost-benefit analysis is carried out and made public alongside any announcement regarding the introduction of a Covid-status certification. Such a cost-benefit analysis should include not only financial but also social and societal costs and … Read more
Government Response
The government states it reviewed costs and benefits as part of its certification review, and that published findings will be made available "in due course".
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4 Recommendation Not Addressed
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
It is highly regrettable that the Government has not, despite committing to do so, provided...
It is highly regrettable that the Government has not, despite committing to do so, provided the Committee with likely financial costs to the public purse or to businesses and individuals of different models of Covid-status certification. Full costings must be … Read more
Government Response
The government states that the cost of certification varies by model and, based on ERP trials, analysis showed a significantly better revenue impact for organisations compared to other interventions, but does not provide full costings.
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5 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
We recognise that conducting detailed modelling, especially with so many unknown variables and uncertainties, is...
We recognise that conducting detailed modelling, especially with so many unknown variables and uncertainties, is difficult and imprecise. Nonetheless, we believe that it is the best guide to the potential impacts of the range of different scenarios that cannot necessarily … Read more
Government Response
The government states it reviewed different certification models and the outcome is in a published report, along with relevant SAGE papers which relate to COVID-status certification, implying these address the request for published modelling.
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6 Recommendation Rejected
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
Given the large number of areas where the Government was unable to provide the Committee...
Given the large number of areas where the Government was unable to provide the Committee with information and answers in regards to: criteria against which the Covid-Status Certification 31 efficacy of that system is to be assessed; the cost-benefit analysis … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's assessment, stating it believes certification provides a public health benefit and has made the NHS COVID Pass available and is encouraging its use for entry to certain venues.
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7 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
The Committee is very encouraged by the evidence we heard both from our expert witness...
The Committee is very encouraged by the evidence we heard both from our expert witness and from the Government as regards vaccine efficacy. What the Committee also heard, however, was that there are significant areas of scientific uncertainty as regards … Read more
Government Response
The government provides a scientific rationale, citing consultations and studies on vaccine effectiveness and transmission reduction, stating certification could be a useful tool for managing risk and keeping events and businesses open.
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8 Conclusion Not Addressed
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
While the Government has not set out the locations, events and venues which would be...
While the Government has not set out the locations, events and venues which would be included in a Covid-status certification system, it did provide some indications that certification might be used for venues such as nightclubs, large events like football … Read more
Government Response
The government states its plan to require full vaccination for entry to nightclubs and other crowded venues by the end of September, with more details on settings to follow, but does not address the committee's concern about arbitrary venue selection.
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9 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
The Committee welcomes the Government’s commitment to publish the applicable thresholds for when Covid-status certificates...
The Committee welcomes the Government’s commitment to publish the applicable thresholds for when Covid-status certificates may be required by particular locations, and believes that the thresholds for requiring certification should be published alongside the introduction of any such system so … Read more
Government Response
The government has stated its plan to make full vaccination a condition of entry for nightclubs and other large venues by the end of September, and will set out more detail on required settings in due course.
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10 Recommendation Rejected
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
The hospitality, arts and sports sectors have been some of the hardest hit sectors of...
The hospitality, arts and sports sectors have been some of the hardest hit sectors of the UK economy and society. All three witnesses were very clear about the damaging effect of social distancing restrictions. As set out above, we have … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's call against a domestic certification system, stating it won't mandate its use from Step 4 but is encouraging voluntary use of the NHS COVID Pass and reserves the right to mandate it in certain venues if necessary.
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11 Recommendation Rejected
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
A Covid-status certification system would, by its very nature, be discriminatory.
A Covid-status certification system would, by its very nature, be discriminatory. The evidence of vaccine uptake is a clear indication that such a system would likely disproportionately discriminate against people on the basis of race, religion and socio-economic background, as … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects abandoning the certification system, stating that while it was not mandated from Step 4, they are encouraging its use and reserve the right to mandate it in certain venues if necessary.
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12 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
If the Government moves forward with any proposals to introduce such a system, despite the...
If the Government moves forward with any proposals to introduce such a system, despite the absence of a scientific case for doing so, a full Equalities Impact Assessment must be provided in good time and certainly in advance of any … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has conducted a full Equalities Impact Assessment and commits to providing it ahead of the introduction of any required legislation.
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13 Recommendation Not Addressed
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
We have strong concerns about the data protection risks that are involved in establishing a...
We have strong concerns about the data protection risks that are involved in establishing a Covid-status certification system. Again, given that the Government have not established a clear scientific case, nor a good overriding public interest Covid-Status Certification 33 case, … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses the certification review and the decision to encourage rather than mandate the NHS COVID Pass, but it does not address the committee's specific request to publish a Data Protection Impact Assessment.
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14 Recommendation Not Addressed
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
While it may not be the Government’s intention for the potential introduction of Covid-status certificates...
While it may not be the Government’s intention for the potential introduction of Covid-status certificates to be a route to introducing ID cards into the UK, there are clear similarities and legitimate concerns that this could occur. Parliament should be … Read more
Government Response
The government's response discusses the certification review and the decision to encourage rather than mandate the NHS COVID Pass, but it does not address the committee's concern about a potential link to ID cards or the recommendation for Parliament to consider this.
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15 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
The decision to launch the Covid-status certificate function on the NHS app for international travel,...
The decision to launch the Covid-status certificate function on the NHS app for international travel, without notifying and consulting Parliament, could be construed as contempt for Parliament and this Committee. The policy should have been set out in advance of … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny for the wider application of certification and will set out the approach to any required legislation in due course, but does not address the committee's concerns about past lack of scrutiny for the international travel function.
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16 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
It is all the more unfortunate that the Government took the approach it did on...
It is all the more unfortunate that the Government took the approach it did on this issue, as it appears to the Committee that demonstrating Covid-status may become a necessary feature of international travel in order to avoid excessive quarantine … Read more
Government Response
The government states that minimal personal data is shared via the NHS COVID Pass for international use, explaining it only displays name, date of birth, and vaccine details, which is transient and not stored.
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17 Recommendation Deferred
Second Report - Covid-Status Certi…
The introduction a Covid-status certification system would have a serious impact on businesses and individuals...
The introduction a Covid-status certification system would have a serious impact on businesses and individuals and has the possibility of infringing rights and being discriminatory in nature. In light of that, we believe that it would be inappropriate for a … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to appropriate parliamentary scrutiny but defers a decision on the specific legislative approach required for wider application of certification, stating it will be set out in due course.
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Government Response AI assessment · 17 of 15 classified
Accepted 4
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 1
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 5
Rejected 3
Total 15 recs + 2 conclusions
Correspondence 10 letters
15 Jul 2021 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster on Covid status certification review Report, dated 5.7.21
Parliament page
6 Jul 2021 Correspondence with James MacDougall, Head of Corporate Affairs, Football Association on Covid status certification at Wembley Stadium, dated between 24-25.6.21
Parliament page
6 Jul 2021 Correspondence with Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster on the NHS Covid Pass, dated between 24-28.6.21.pdf
Parliament page
10 Jun 2021 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Dutchy of Lancaster on Covid certification - Data Protection Impact Assessment, dated 9.6.21
Parliament page
13 May 2021 To committee Letter from Ed Humpherson, Director General for Regulation, UK Statistics Authority on Covid vaccine certification, dated 28.4.21
Parliament page
13 May 2021 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on COVID-status certification, dated 7.5.21
Parliament page
13 May 2021 To committee Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician on Covid vaccine certification, dated 28.4.21
Parliament page
13 May 2021 From committee Letter to Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Department for Transport on the data on the 'traffic light system for international travel', dated 27.4.21
Parliament page
8 Apr 2021 From committee Letter to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Covid vaccine certificates, dated 8.4.21
Parliament page
11 Mar 2021 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on vaccine passports, dated 10.3.21
Parliament page