Governor DeSantis vows to ban ‘vaccine passports’ in Florida

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday vowed to take executive action to stop the use of so-called COVID-19 “vaccine passports” in the state

“It is completely unacceptable that the government or the private sector impose an obligation on you to show proof of vaccination just to be able to participate in normal society,” he said.

“Do you want the fox to guard the henhouse?” I mean, give me a break, ”the Republican governor added. “I think it’s something that has huge privacy implications. It is not necessary to do this. “

DeSantis said the Sunshine State has vaccinated a total of 3.5 million seniors, or about 75% of them this week.

“It’s important to be able to do that, but at the same time, we’re not going to ask you to provide proof of that just so you can live your life normally,” DeSantis said.

He added: “And I will be taking action in an executive function and an emergency function here very soon.”

DeSantis’ comments come after it was revealed that the Biden administration is working to create a set of standards for more than a dozen “passports” being created so Americans can prove they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

New York is the first state in the United States to officially launch such an app.

The program, dubbed the “Excelsior Pass,” is an app that allows New Yorkers to prove their vaccine status, or recent history of a negative COVID-19 test, in order to access events and businesses.

Major sites, such as Madison Square Garden and the Times Union Center in Albany, will start using the app this week, and on April 2, the Excelsior Pass will expand to “smaller art venues, entertainment and events, ”Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office told me.