No jab no beer: Australians could soon be forced to prove they’ve been vaccinated with Covid passport-style app on their phone or be BANNED from pubs
- NSW residents could be forced to show proof they’ve gotten the Covid vaccine
- The Morrison Government is in talks with Service NSW to discuss the plan
- Patrons would use the Service NSW app to display proof they’ve gotten the jab
New South Wales residents could be forced to show proof they’ve been vaccinated against Covid with a passport-style phone app before they’re allowed to enter venues.
The Morrison Government is in talks with Service NSW to discuss the plan that would allow people to use the SNSW app to show they’ve gotten the jab.
The proposal is similar to Israel’s green pass system, where holders get exclusive access to gyms, hotels, theatres, and concerts.
If the technology gets the go ahead, pubs and clubs could enforce the proof of vaccine as a requirement upon entry, The Daily Telegraph reports.
If the technology gets the go ahead, pubs and clubs could enforce the proof of vaccine as a requirement upon entry
Administered doses have fallen well short of the 60,000 target in the first week, but the government believes ground can be made up
The Service NSW app, which has been downloaded more than four million times, will only increase in popularity if the vaccine passport was stored on the app.
‘I want to thank the people of NSW for downloading the Service NSW app more than four million times … which continues to keep our community safe from COVID-19,’ she said.
‘We are using technology to enhance the user experience and prioritise public safety, and these figures show that citizens have embraced our digital solutions.’
Meanwhile, defence personnel will step in to add some firepower to the rollout of coronavirus vaccines across Australia.
The Australian Defence Force will from next week help administer the vaccine in aged care homes, with an emphasis placed on facilities in regional areas.
‘They are very organised – we set our best expectations and they continue to beat them,’ Health Minister Greg Hunt told the Nine Network on Tuesday.
Mr Hunt remains confident all Australians can get at least a first dose of the vaccine by October, despite a slow start to the program.
Administered doses have fallen well short of the 60,000 target in the first week, but the government believes ground can be made up.
As of Tuesday evening nearly 42,000 Australians have had their first dose, including more than 13,000 aged care residents at 158 facilities.
Federal Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck said the government always expected a few difficulties in the early days of the program.
He said the target of vaccinating all Australian aged care residents within six weeks of the rollout’s start date remained on course.
Jane Halton from the national COVID-19 commission said some states – Victoria, NSW and Queensland – had decided to ease into the rollout.
The Service NSW app, which has been downloaded more than four million times, will continue to increase in popularity if the vaccine passport is stored on the app
‘Slow and steady at the beginning is wise,’ Ms Halton told 3AW radio.
‘Everyone is learning how to do this … we’ve never done this before.’
Only the Pfizer vaccine has been administered so far, with imported stocks of the AstraZeneca option to be available in the next 10 days.
Pharmaceutical giant CSL is also manufacturing 50 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in Victoria, with senior official Christopher Larkins saying about one million jabs were ready at the facility.
Doses will begin leaving the Victorian facility by the end of the month, with the company to ramp up production.
Mr Hunt on Tuesday also confirmed federal biosecurity powers have been renewed for three months until mid-June, which gives the government the ability to limit such things as cruise ship movement and international travel.