On May 17, 2021, the NHS COVID Pass or vaccine travel certificate was introduced in the UK. Despite the ethical concerns voiced by the UK’s Conservative Party, Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced that full vaccination will be mandatory for entering nightclubs and other high-traffic venues where COVID19 can spread quickly.
What does this mean to other businesses? The travel and tourism sectors and those that are limited to operate under social distancing measures could benefit, as they can begin operating once more, albeit in a limited fashion. On the other hand, this measure may be considered by some as exclusionary, and lead to discrimination and a two-tier society.
In this article, MS Webb Co., a trusted bailiff company, explores the potential opportunities and challenges of vaccine passports on the various businesses in the UK.
Potential Opportunities
There have been considerable restrictions on the population’s freedom since last year when the COVID19 pandemic became a public health crisis in the UK. But with the new COVID passports, fully vaccinated people can once again move freely. This might mean that people could start safely returning to workplaces and entertainment venues and attend large-scale events.
“Vaccine passports are the way forward,” says the Pimlico Plumbers Founder Charlie Mullins OBE. Not having such measures, he argues, restricts the ability of the economy to recover, and places people at even greater risk.
Carl Atkinson, a partner in the employment and pensions team at Gunnercooke also states that employers are legally obliged to provide a safe workplace for their employees. By using the vaccine passports along with reasonable precautions, businesses could better assure that their working environment is as safe as possible against the risks of COVID-19.
Potential Challenges
On the other hand, there is some resistance to the measure. Michael Kill, CEO of the UK’s Night Time Industries Association says that 80% of nightclubs don’t want to implement COVID passports. They are concerned about the difficulties with imposing the system and a potential decrease in spontaneous customers.
There are also safety concerns and uncertainties in terms of the degree of protection offered by vaccines. David Archard, the chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics remarks that there is a danger in people assuming that they can’t spread coronavirus once they’ve been vaccinated. Thus, when used in the wrong way, passports could give a false sense of security, lead to unsafe behaviour, and potentially increase transmission.
Who Will Get the Final Say?
The UK Government has not always been absolutely consistent in their statements regarding COVID passports. So far, the passports will only be made mandatory for entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather.
According to Nadhim Zahawi, Minister for COVID Vaccine Deployment, vaccine passports will not be required for entry to essential services like supermarkets. However, he adds that the government reserves its right to command its use in the future.
Such a polarizing issue means that businesses themselves have different views on the matter. Some business leaders welcome the idea of enforcing vaccine passports. But others think it will be a costly burden that may cause friction between staff and customers, as well as potential issues with legislation and privacy.
Protect Your Business Interests
Whether vaccine passports will be mandated in every establishment or not, it’s essential to protect your business interests and reputation. As a well-established bailiff company, MS Webb offers reliable and comprehensive bailiff and security services while ensuring the safety of our employees and clients. Our personnel will ensure that your business’s safety and health measures are enforced.
Contact us today if you’re looking to protect your business’s money, assets, and property.