Of course Covid-19 vaccination certificates are discriminatory – that’s the whole point
Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson’s statement, as quoted by Nadhim Zahawi (News, 7 February), that this government won’t be issuing Covid-19 vaccination certificates because it is discriminatory and “that’s not how we do things in the UK, we do them by consent”, is as fatuous as one would expect from him.
I hereby publicly voice my consent to receiving a Covid-19 vaccination certificate. I own a yellow fever vaccination certificate, and have carried a variety of other vaccination certificates for travel purposes throughout my life.
They do, indeed, discriminate between those who have had vaccinations and those who haven’t. That is precisely their public health purpose where international travel is concerned.
They are eminently sensible – so where this government is concerned, that is, of course, “not how we do things in the UK”.
D Maughan Brown
York
Can he fix it?
When did Boris Johnson swap his Bob the Builder hi-vis and hard hat for his white coat? All the while he looks studiously at a vial, presumably to reinvent himself as Professor Vaccine Maker.
Peter Smith-Cullen
Dunston, Norfolk
Survival of the fittest
Are we about to witness another awful example of viral Darwinism in action? As more of the population receive one of the currently approved vaccines, won't this effectively suppress the UK strain of Covid-19, giving the South African strain an advantage?
This advantage will allow the South African strain to quickly supplant its rival throughout the UK once lockdown restrictions start being lifted.
Dr Gordon Brooks
Gosport, Hampshire
Private fears
I read the Editor’s Letter from Chris Stevenson ('The vaccine rollout is a real bright spot in the news right now', 8 February) with interest. In it he congratulated the government on its roll out of the vaccination programme. I feel that this congratulation is misplaced, as the true appreciation should go to the NHS staff who have delivered this programme.
If the government has any credit due to it, it is that this time it decided not to go to the private sector to try and deliver the vaccination programme.
Martin Johnson
Ousden
Did she have the authority?
I completely recognise the point at the heart of Fiona Sturges’ article ('Jackie Weaver’s parish meeting exposes the belittling and sidelining of women everywhere', 6 February). However, as a former chair of a parish council, I am concerned by the general acceptance that the clerk can remove the chair from the meeting. Under most council’s standing orders, that could only be done by the rest of the council.
Perhaps Jackie Weaver had been granted exceptional powers beforehand, but if not, then it seems to me that no matter how admirable her self-control, what she did was probably illegal.
Rachael Padman
Newmarket, Suffolk
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments