UK ‘Covid O’ cabinet committee to consider ‘vaccine passport’ plans

Senior ministers are expected to consider plans for ‘vaccine licenses’ that could save the summer holidays.

The ‘Covid O’ cabinet sub-committee is expected to look at proposals to develop a system that could release restrictions on international travel.

However, final decisions are not expected – and no date has been set for when the provisions can take effect.

Instead it is likely that the Department for Transport will be allowed to make preparations, and the Department of Health will be asked to investigate how Britons can access their medical information.

Unnecessary foreign travel is currently illegal, and there are even stricter border rules with ‘quarantine hotels’ for everyone entering ‘red-listed’ countries at risk high takes effect Monday.

One key government source told MailOnline that it was ‘too early’ for meaningful decisions to be made by ministers.

Another source said Covid O’s agenda dealt with ‘concepts not hard stuff’. ‘That will be an age gone,’ he said.

Boris Johnson said last night that the Government was looking at ‘all sorts of apps and all sorts of capabilities’ for unlocking travel while the rollout of the vaccine is ramped up.

He confirmed that ministers are in talks with other countries and the aviation industry about an international certification system.

The smartphone apps let holidaymakers verify their jobs and scan Covid’s recent negative test before flying.

But he said: ‘When we are in that different world, which I hope will be as soon as possible, all kinds of apps and all kinds of capabilities will be open to us.’

Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps also revealed that he is in talks with other countries and the ICAO airline DA about how they can prevent people from getting vaccinated.

The talks focus on an ‘internationally recognized system’ that allows passengers to confirm that they have received a Covid injection.

It is not the same as a ‘protected passport’ to access services and escape restrictions within the UK – which ministers have confirmed will not happen.

Mr Shapps said he has been in talks with his peers in Singapore and the United States about the potential of an international certification system.

‘I think in the future there will be an international system where countries want to know if you have been vaccinated or if you may have had pre-flight tests,’ he said. e to the Today program on BBC Radio 4.

‘I was talking to my Singapore colleague, I was talking to my US colleague this week, and we will have discussions about these things so that there is an internationally recognized system .

‘I think the confusion comes in when people talk about domestic passports, which I don’t think is on the cards. ‘

Alexandre de Juniac, chief executive of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said it is working with carriers on the TravelPass app, which will enable people flying overseas the coronavirus test and vaccine results share them.

The former head of Air France told the BBC Newscast podcast that the app could be released in April, and talks with the UK Government have been ‘very fruitful’.

‘We should not expect, but the UK authorities are among those with whom we have the closest connection to this element,’ he said.

Mr de Juniac confirmed reports that the app is being tested by IAG, a major British Airways company, as the aviation industry is looking at ways to resume international travel.