Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed an executive order on Tuesday banning the use of vaccine passports throughout the state.
The order explicitly states that no state agency, provider of state services, or state property is allowed to implement any vaccine passport program or require proof of vaccination in order to enter the premises of a location or conduct business. Additionally, vaccination will not be required to enter the state of Georgia.
“Today’s executive order makes clear that vaccine passports will not be utilized in state government,” Gov. Kemp said.
Kemp still urged residents to get vaccinated to protect against and limit the spread of COVID-19. However, he specified that the requirement of a vaccine passport is a government overreach.
“While I continue to urge all Georgians to get vaccinated so we continue our momentum in putting the COVID-19 pandemic in the rearview, vaccination is a personal decision between each citizen and a medical professional – not state government. This order also clearly states that data held by the Georgia Department of Public Health and their immunization system will not be used by any public or private entity for a vaccine passport program,” Kemp added.
Kemp signaled his opposition to vaccine passports earlier this year. “I do not and will not support any kind of state-mandated vaccine passport,” he tweeted.
I do not and will not support any kind of state-mandated vaccine passport. While the development of multiple safe, highly effective COVID-19 vaccines has been a scientific miracle, the decision to receive the vaccine should be left up to each individual.
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) April 6, 2021
Vaccine passports are a popular trend among liberal states that require an individual to provide proof of vaccination from the coronavirus before entry into the state is permitted.
However, as coronavirus infections and hospitalizations continue to plummet across the country, many states have moved to prevent these measures from being implemented. A recent poll found that most people oppose a vaccine requirement for most activities.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
