This happened even faster than most people expected. We were warned earlier this month that New York State is working to implement an immune passport system for people who want to reintroduce the most “normal” aspects of society. Clearly, the state has made its decision and had people working on the project, because the “Excelsior Pass” is already in production and will be needed for many social activities starting April 2. Big places in New York City already use it, but most other “art, entertainment and event venues” will require a permit shortly thereafter. People who have been vaccinated or received a negative COVID test in the last few days will be able to obtain the permit, which can be printed on paper or displayed via a phone application. (New York Post)
The nation’s first “vaccine passport” is coming to the Big Apple.
The program, called the Excelsior Pass, is an application that will allow New Yorkers to demonstrate their vaccination status or the recent history of a negative COVID-19 test to gain access to events and business, Governor Cuomo said in a statement. press release on Friday.
“Like a boarding pass from a mobile airline, individuals will be able to either print their license or store it on their smartphones using the Excelsior Pass Wallet app,” the press release said.
If you choose to install the app on your phone, it will display a key code that will be recognized by a scanner when you enter the event you want to attend or the business you want to enter for shopping or other purposes. Assuming you have a valid code, a green check mark will be displayed in response. If the system does not consider you compliant, a red “X” will be displayed and you will be denied entry.
The first thing to note here is that New York State has so far vaccinated about half of its eligible citizens. This means that the other half of the state will now be excluded from almost all non-essential activities, unless they find a place to be tested and “checked” every few days. And if you think this only applies to things like basketball, guess again. The state specifically listed wedding receptions as events that will require a scanner at the door and an immunity passport to enter. This morning, CNN says that 14.7 percent of adults in the United States are fully vaccinated at this time, so the difference is much greater if a plan like this appears nationwide.
Although not part of the initial launch, large retail chains and even grocery stores are studying how this system could be implemented in their units. You can’t be prevented from shopping for food and other essentials in their entirety, but some stores are considering creating separate entrances for those with or without a passport or restricting certain hours of shopping only to those who go through the check.
I went through the “explanation” from the Post of how the system works and I do not see any exceptions listed for people with comorbidities or other underlying conditions that could cause doctors to recommend them to avoid the vaccine. So, if you choose not to be vaccinated or are medically disqualified from receiving it, at least in New York, you will be officially a second-class citizen on April 2. Without a permit, you will be part of a new class of gamblers who are forbidden to interfere with the new upper class of people with immunity or those who buy a few days of “normalcy”, with a negative COVID test result.
So when does this end? Based on information provided by the state, not. These rules do not mention an expiry provision. It is possible that the government will seriously consider doing this the “new normal”. And it won’t be limited to New York State. You can bet that almost all blue states (at least) will copy this system in short order. Are we really going to put up with this? We are constantly arguing about any activities that have a clue about what someone considers racism, sexism or any other “ism” you would like to call. But discrimination against unvaccinated people is apparently fine and dandy. This cannot be allowed to stand while the way society continues to function and our elected officials need to hear about this loud and clear.