Massachusetts is partnering with as many as 20 other states in an effort to create a shared digital system through which residents can prove their COVID-19 vaccination status.Gov. Charlie Baker spoke about the development effort Monday during a radio interview. He explained the plan centers around a QR code — a digitally encoded pattern designed to be scanned from a device — that residents can display on a smartphone. Those codes could be scanned by businesses, venues or others to verify vaccination status. “It’s a universal standard and we’ve been working with a bunch of other states,” Baker said during an interview on GBH’s Boston Public Radio. “There’s probably 15 or 20 of them, to try to create a single QR code that can be used for all sorts of things where people may choose to require a vaccine.”Monday’s interview was not the first time Baker expressed his interest in creating a vaccine passport system. He said in September that Massachusetts was consulting with other states on the subject. In a subsequent statement issued by email on Tuesday, Baker’s staff clarified that while Massachusetts is involved in developing the system he does not support a mandate requiring its use.“Governor Baker is not and has never been in favor of a statewide so-called vaccine passport mandate and does not support requiring that businesses or other organizations restrict access based on vaccination status,” said Sarah Finlaw, communications director for the Baker administration. “Right now, MA residents can voluntarily obtain proof of their vaccination either in paper form, or electronic form from most but not all vaccine providers such as CVS or Walgreens. The Administration is developing a system for residents, if they choose to, to obtain their digital proof of vaccination if they are unable to obtain it through their vaccine provider. Currently, some businesses are choosing to screen customers for vaccination status. There is no Massachusetts requirement that these businesses do so. The Administration is working to make it easier for those residents who wish to download this proof of vaccination record if they want to.”New York and California have their own digital proof of vaccination systems. They’re used to prove someone’s vaccination status before being allowed entrance to restricted businesses or events.Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has also said she supports vaccine passports.
Massachusetts is partnering with as many as 20 other states in an effort to create a shared digital system through which residents can prove their COVID-19 vaccination status.
Gov. Charlie Baker spoke about the development effort Monday during a radio interview. He explained the plan centers around a QR code — a digitally encoded pattern designed to be scanned from a device — that residents can display on a smartphone. Those codes could be scanned by businesses, venues or others to verify vaccination status.
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“It’s a universal standard and we’ve been working with a bunch of other states,” Baker said during an interview on GBH’s Boston Public Radio. “There’s probably 15 or 20 of them, to try to create a single QR code that can be used for all sorts of things where people may choose to require a vaccine.”
Monday’s interview was not the first time Baker expressed his interest in creating a vaccine passport system. He said in September that Massachusetts was consulting with other states on the subject.
In a subsequent statement issued by email on Tuesday, Baker’s staff clarified that while Massachusetts is involved in developing the system he does not support a mandate requiring its use.
“Governor Baker is not and has never been in favor of a statewide so-called vaccine passport mandate and does not support requiring that businesses or other organizations restrict access based on vaccination status,” said Sarah Finlaw, communications director for the Baker administration. “Right now, MA residents can voluntarily obtain proof of their vaccination either in paper form, or electronic form from most but not all vaccine providers such as CVS or Walgreens. The Administration is developing a system for residents, if they choose to, to obtain their digital proof of vaccination if they are unable to obtain it through their vaccine provider. Currently, some businesses are choosing to screen customers for vaccination status. There is no Massachusetts requirement that these businesses do so. The Administration is working to make it easier for those residents who wish to download this proof of vaccination record if they want to.”
New York and California have their own digital proof of vaccination systems. They’re used to prove someone’s vaccination status before being allowed entrance to restricted businesses or events.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has also said she supports vaccine passports.