Watch: Zahawi announces vaccine passports for large events

And so after months of debate and disagreement, at last the government has today revealed vaccine passports will be introduced in nightclubs and large events from the end of September. This afternoon vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi told the House of Commons that a negative Covid test will not be sufficient; instead, only two vaccinations will do. 

Proof of a jab will not be needed to enter pubs and restaurants but individual landlords do have the power to insist on them. Today’s decision follows a review by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove earlier this month into the possible use of Covid certification. The results, published in a report earlier this month, had appeared to kill off the prospect of such passports being used at all as it stated: 

Having considered a wide range of evidence as part of the review, the Government has concluded that it will not mandate the use of COVID-status certification as a condition of entry for visitors to any setting at the present time.