Coronavirus Vaccine Passports: Here's Where That Stands In PA

PENNSYLVANIA — Legislation advancing in the Pennsylvania Legislature would ban state and local municipalities from requiring vaccine passports. The measure, approved by the Senate Health and Services Committee, must now go to the full Senate for consideration.

The idea behind a coronavirus vaccine passport is simple: The passport is typically imagined as a smartphone app or online tool that would allow individuals to easily share their vaccination status with businesses, entertainment venues and other entities.

But some lawmakers in Pennsylvania believe it's "extreme government intrusion" and want to ensure they can't be mandated here in the Keystone State.

"Requiring a vaccine passport for Pennsylvanians to live their lives day-to-day represents an extreme government intrusion into people’s personal lives. This is particularly evident as we are dealing with citizens’ private medical information," co-sponsors wrote in a legislative memo.

One of those co-sponsors is Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill of York County. In a news release, she said there has been "shifting guidance from day one and while the administration shares our sentiment in not requiring vaccine passports, this legislation will give every Pennsylvanian the reassurance that their state government will not overstep its bounds."

Gov. Tom Wolf and state health officials have not indicated any desire to require a vaccine passport.

"I'm not sure what the deal is with that," Gov. Wolf said earlier this spring. "If a cruise liner wants to make sure everyone's safe on a cruise ship, and they want to have some proof of vaccination ... I'm not sure why the government would weigh in either way."

That's not stopping some lawmakers in Harrisburg from acting, however.

"We believe that every Pennsylvanian who wants a COVID-19 vaccine should have the opportunity to receive one," Hill stated. "However, those who cannot get the vaccine due to medical reasons, arbitrary vaccine deployment phases created by the governor, or personal choice should not be discriminated against by their own government."

While Pennsylvania has not indicated a move towards a passport, there are iterations of the notion in the private sector. Walmart has introduced a way for those who received a vaccine at their stores to easily share their status. British technology company Helix has also launched a mobile app. Live music and sports are just two examples of the types of events that seem primed to embrace the technology on a larger scale.