Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Monday that he will take emergency executive action as the concept of Americans needing a vaccine passport to be able to travel home and abroad is gaining support.
“We’re not supportive of that. I think it’s something that people have certain freedoms and individual liberties to make decisions for themselves,” the governor said in a press conference.
“We always said we wanted to provide it for all but mandate it for none,” DeSantis said. “And that was something that, while it was advised to take particularly if you’re vulnerable, we were not going to force you to do it.”
However, President Biden’s administration will not push a national coronavirus vaccine passport program.
“A determination or development of vaccine passports, or whatever you want to call it, will be driven by the private sector,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. “Ours will more be focused on guidelines that can be used as a basis.”
DeSantis said Americans “have certain freedoms and individual liberties” if they want to take the vaccine.
You’re going to do this and what, give all this information to some big corporation?” the governor said. “You want the fox to guard the hen house? I mean give me a break.”
Share your thoughts on this story and other news stories on Christian News Journal’s Facebook page here.
For more news and stories of the day from Christian News Journal, click here.
—By Corine Gatti-Santillo