Skip to main content

How will vaccine passports affect your family trip? What you need to know

Every day, we receive more news about breakthroughs in preventing and treating COVID-19. With the response that most states have seen regarding the vaccine’s rollout, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for summer travel. At the same time, how can we know which locations have restrictions and which are back to almost pre-pandemic reopening? And even so, what if a particular state requires vaccine passports? We have gathered information on this ever-changing topic to help you to make the best decision for a family trip.

Items needed for traveling
Elements 5/Pexels.com

What is a vaccine passport?

A vaccine passport would allow you to gain entrance into crowded venues such as a concert, sports event, or theatrical production. Vaccine passports could also open more doors regarding travel to foreign countries, many of which are requiring them or weighing their options. However, the vaccine passports would be different than the cards issued from the CDC upon receiving a vaccination, as those can be forged easily.

Related Videos

Thus, the passport itself would come in the form of an app for smartphone users. For individuals who don’t have a smartphone, a certificate would be issued. These items provide proof that the person has received the COVID-19 vaccine.

For example, New York has started using what’s called an Excelsior Pass for crowded events and large weddings. Likewise, Israel now requires a “Green Pass” to enter hotels, gyms, restaurants, and theaters.

The pros and cons of issuing vaccine passports

Nonetheless, the possibility of issuing vaccine passports has raised some debate. Just like with any topic on public policy, there are two sides to the argument.

Pros

These are the main arguments in favor of vaccine passports:

  • Requiring vaccine passports provides strong motivation for people who are still reluctant about getting any one of the three COVID-19 vaccines approved in the U.S. In other words, a person’s desire to “return to normal” would prompt him or her to get vaccinated as soon as possible. With more people vaccinated, countries can reopen their economies more quickly.
  • They would provide a stronger sense of security for patrons who enter a crowded venue. People would feel safer knowing that the people around them have also been immunized.
  • Vaccine passports could provide better protection for front-line workers in the medical, service, hospitality, and travel fields.

Cons

These are the main arguments against vaccine passports:

  • Researchers are still in the early stages of determining the vaccines’ effectiveness against the variants that have cropped up in the U.S. and throughout the world.
  • There is a lack of equitable access to the vaccine, especially in rural areas and locations with high populations of low-income people and minorities. With state and local governments still navigating the process of procuring enough vaccines for everyone, some believe that the passport raises more chances of discrimination — whether intended or not.
  • As with everything related to technology, it comes with a security risk. People want to feel like their data and health information will remain safe.
  • While some business owners and managers view the vaccine passports as a protection again losing patrons, others see it as an infringement on the rights and privacy of their customers.
travelers in an airport
Download-a-pic Donate-a-buck/Pexels.com

Which states will require vaccine passports?

Thus far, vaccine passports are not being mandated at the federal level. However, some states will require them, while others are still contemplating the logistics:

  • Hawaii: Governor David Ige stated that the technology for a passport is in the works, detailing the state’s plans.
  • Illinois: Governor JB Pritzker has not ruled out the idea of a passport, but he has stated that it should be a person’s “personal choice” on whether to obtain one and should not be mandatory for entering any facilities or events.
  • New York: As mentioned, New York is moving ahead with the Excelsior Pass.

States that will not require vaccine passports or have introduced legislation against them include:

  • Texas
  • Georgia
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • Iowa
  • Louisiana
  • Nebraska
  • Maryland
  • Montana
  • Wisconsin

Most likely, as data continues to roll in, and more studies are conducted on the efficacy of vaccines against variants, more states will implement their own policies.

Whether or not you will need a vaccine passport will likely depend on where you live — and your lifestyle. Those looking to stick close to home may not need one. But if you’re planning a family trip abroad, there’s a good chance those eligible will need a vaccine passport in the near future. The International Air Transport Association, a trade group representing 290 international airlines, is developing Travel Pass, with 23 airlines testing it. Norwegian Cruise Line will require passengers booked through October 31 to be vaccinated.

What about kids?

As of right now, there is no pediatric vaccine for COVID-19 though many companies are in testing stages. Without a vaccine, children can’t get a vaccine passport — and it’s not a guarantee that restrictions will ease for kids. However, the EU has indicated that its proposed digital green passes would show recent COVID-19 results, so children who tested negative could travel.

What does this mean for your family? Before booking that international trip — or buying those ball game tickets — check to see what the venue or destination’s policy is, or whether the destination is looking to institute more stringent measures. There isn’t a universal approach to vaccine passports, and you don’t want to book a trip the whole family can’t enjoy fully.

As we navigate the “new normal,” more information will be presented, and more definitive information will be given about how various parts of the U.S. and the rest of the world will respond to the idea of instituting a vaccine passport of some kind. In the meantime, we can continue to stay current on any trends and do our best to protect ourselves and our families.

Editors' Recommendations

Is a 4-year-old chewing on a shirt symptomatic of something wrong? What you need to know
Child chewing on his shirt collar

It's common for babies to chew on anything and everything they can get their hands on, especially when they're teething. Mouthing objects is a very normal part of development for babies, but by age 3, children have usually outgrown this habit. When children chew on things they shouldn't — like their clothing — it becomes more of a mystery than babies' clear developmental reasons.
If your 4-year-old (or older) is chewing on their shirt, there are many possible causes and motivations. Some may be easily fixed at home, and you can help stop your child from clothes-chewing, while others may require a call to the pediatrician. Let's figure out what's going on.

Fidgeting

Read more
Why you shouldn’t buy an electric vehicle for your family road trip
Woman standing with a coffee while her electric car charges

If you want to go green, an electric vehicle is an industrious way to lessen your carbon footprint. An electric or EV vehicle doesn't use a traditional combustible engine relying on fossil fuels. Instead, it uses electricity. While an electric vehicle is an environmentally friendly option in cities where charging stations are plentiful, what about when you and the family head out on the highway for a road trip? Range anxiety is actually a thing, and what about other features of electric vehicles like motion-sickness frequency that don't make EVs family-friendly for long road trips?

It's true an electric vehicle has environmental perks as well as taking away the pain at the gas pumps. With summer just around the corner, the national average for a tank of regular gas is hovering at almost $5 a gallon. A tank or premium is over $5 and let's not talk about diesel. As gas prices continue to skyrocket, electric cars certainly look more appealing, but before you think about packing an EV for a cross-country road trip or a highway adventure with the family, be sure to take these things into consideration.

Read more
Need 1st birthday party ideas? These tips and tricks will help you throw a fantastic, stress-free event
A baby's first birthday cake

Celebrating your baby's first birthday is a time to rejoice and recognize all the wonderful things that occurred in your child’s first year. While it can be easy to feel overwhelmed trying to create the perfect party, you don’t need to let the stress of planning your little one’s special day get to you. We’re here to help ease the worry and tension around your precious one’s day with some practical tips and helpful ideas for your 1-year-old's birthday party.

Here are some sweet ideas for a 1-year-old's birthday party along with some pointers, tips, and tricks to help make sure the day runs smoothly.
Consider the time of year

Read more