As the COVID-19 vaccine continues to roll out around the country and world, officials are looking at next steps.
Flight from Orlando
Right now, many countries (including the United States) already require a negative test for entry and masks are soon to be required for air travel in the U.S. Now, officials are evaluating the potential for a “vaccine passport” to prove passengers are vaccinated in order to fly. Here’s what we know!
According to the New York Times, a recent Executive Order from President Joe Biden asks government agencies to “assess the feasibility” of linking COVID-19 vaccine certificates with other documents and producing digital versions.
COVID-19 Testing Tents at Disneyland ©OCR
This is ultimately aiming at working out a kind of “vaccine pass or passport” to provide passengers in travel, workers, and attendees at events with documentation to prove they have been vaccinated against the virus. This kind of pass could specifically be used for international travel or for largescale events, like the Super Bowl. Many countries and some airlines already require a negative COVID-19 test to fly, this could be the next step.
© House of Blues
Currently, the CDC mandates a negative test for international travelers entering the United States. The requirement of a negative test is not new, but this vaccine passport is for use if officials opt to require vaccination for certain activities.
Click here to learn more about the U.S. testing mandate.
“One key element vital for the restart of tourism is consistency and harmonization of rules and protocols regarding international travel,” said Zurab Pololikashvili, secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. “Evidence of vaccination, for example, through the coordinated introduction of what may be called ‘health passports’ can offer this. They can also eliminate the need for quarantine on arrival, a policy which is also standing in the way of the return of international tourism.”
Some entities are already working to develop a digital health passport of sorts including the government of Denmark, the International Air Transport Association, I.A.T.A., IBM, and The World Economic Forum, and the Commons Project Foundation.
Recent Flight from Orlando
One challenge with this is creating a document or app that can be accepted and verified worldwide, that protects privacy, and is accessible to people regardless of their wealth and smartphone access.
We’ll be keeping an eye out for more news about the vaccine passport and how it may affect your travel to Disney parks. As always, stay tuned to DFB for the latest updates.
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So, we’re gonna be asked for our papers when we go to the park. Are they gonna have arm bands on also?last time I checked this is America
I guess the keeper of this page didn’t like my last comments about not liking the direction the government is headed so they just deleted them. Censorship much? If you dont want comments, then turn off the ability to add them. Otherwise all your doing is allowing like minded people to speak – which means no one learns anything because your speaking to only people that agree with you. No educational value in that.
I appreciate that making sure that people stay safe in challenging environments. HOWEVER this is protected medical information and I do not believe it is appropriate to link it to travel documents. Nor do I believe that having to prove you are negative is appropriate. It does not prove you are negative only that you were on the day you took the test. Requiring people to wear masks, making sure the middle seats are empty, washing hands, keeping people socially distances, NOT holding major superspreader events are the way to keep people safe.
My grandparents survived the holocaust. This is terrifying. 🙁
What a difference it can make if responsible travel mandated!
I’m counting the days till my vaccine
I carry a DRIVERS license and that indicated I can SEE well enough to keep my self and others safe
Happy to carry a TRAVEL license
One problem with health passports is children. Lots of kids are traveling but the vaccine is not approved for them. They would be likely exempt but can easily have the virus with no symptoms.
Currently it would be illegal under the HIPPA law to ask for or require people to produce medical documentation for flight, travel, store purchase, lodging or anything else in the United States. International law is differant.
Last I checked, Disneyland and Disney World are both in the United States. As a private buisness, Disney may require something, but medical questions are not one of the things they can ask. It a protected class.
Until this is implemented, I don’t think posting speculation on something that is so serious and controversial is a wise idea. You are coming off as pro vaccine and I think you should keep your opinions to yourself and stop creating anger and fear over something not implemented yet. I am now going to unsubscribe to your newsletter because of this post and others similar
I plan on getting my vaccine as soon as it’s available to me. This doesn’t bother me one bit.
International travel is one thing, in the US this will be headed to the Supreme Court before you can even get the words out. We have a Constitution and HIPPA laws that need to be followed by everyone. I would not be surprised if there is already dozens of Constitutional attorneys just waiting for anyone to dare utter the word mandatory in the US.
Molly is correct! This is terrifying! Taking a vaccine should be an individuals choice. My body, my choice right? This virus has over a 99% survival rate. Elderly and high risk people should have the option to take the vaccine before anyone else, should they chose to do so. But making perfectly healthy people take it against their wishes or prevent them from living the American way of life is outrageous.
Its becoming 1984 peeps. I think this is nonsense and very wrong. Of course my comment will not b published. As someone mentioned if your comment is not liked it just will not b posted. Censorship much?!
In addition to previous comments, I want to know if vaccines are required, when is the current leadership going to make sure we can get the vaccines. For some reason I am afraid a lot of people are going to be left out because states like Missouri gets a low number of vaccines each week. Also our government wants to give it to everyone else first, like prisoners. I have two neighbors who are sisters and Are age 90 and 95, that have stayed at their house since it started. Except for doctor and two emergency room visits. They have been signed up for vaccine but haven’t been able to get it yet. Now one has Covid. So sad what is happening since in America in 2021, due to Executive orders that hurt the Americans are happening every day. While the politicians have their vaccines so not to worried about anyone else, just talking a bunch of nonsense.
First, just because you believe what you are saying is true does not mean it it. Look at the Q crowd. Just sayin’.
Second: There are vaccinations required to travel to some parts of the world already. Maybe this is news to you.
Third: When I travel I always bring my vaccine documentation. It’s just not that big a deal. I have it with me in case I need it.
Forth: I find it sad that anyone would sully the Holocaust with this reference. That was a very serious time. This is NOT anything like that.
I wore a mask and that wasn’t enough. Now they want forced vaccinations? So if you can’t get covid after the vaccine, don’t worry about me, you’ll be fine. I am no danger to you unless it is about more than just a vaccination. You like your vaccination, you can keep your vaccination but you aren’t telling me what to do with my body.
Don’t feel bad posters, I’m always Censored.
We regularly show our drivers’ licenses and passports which reveal personal information about us and our activities. I had to have vaccinations in order to attend graduate school; everyone in my graduate program, including myself, knew that we had had vaccinations or proof of previous infection in order to be accepted into the program. Any comparison of vaccine requirements to Nazi Germany is really over the top.
Part of me understands and the other part, that also knows history and human nature, is utterly terrified
Never going to happen. Last I heard the US had HIPPA laws. Why a vaccine passport for COVID and not for the flu? This would put airlines and other industries out of business including Disney, although I believe the current leadership is doing a heck of job doing destroying Disney without a vaccine passport.
I think its very ironic that a few years ago the Anti-Vaxer movement was forcing everyone to accept their way of life. And the specific government political party was pushing for acceptance of the anti-vaxer lifestyle and choice.
Now. These same people are foring the population to get a vaccine.
What are they telling the anti-vaxers now?
I understand not wanting to spread the virus but what if you have an allergy to something in the vaccine? One of the ladies I work with found out that one of the chemicals used in one version of the shot is what caused her entire head to break out in open sores. I guess she wouldn’t be able to travel via plane??? I have some allergies too but haven’t looked at what all is used to see if I would have major allergic reaction. Guess no more flights for me if can’t get shot. Definitely not driving from PA to WDW since that is almost a full day.
Ron – As an American, you simply don’t have the “freedom” to put other lives in danger.
Chris – There is no need to turn off comments to all just because a few people can’t act appropriately.
If you don’t like the rules, find a food blog that permits political nonsense.
Mary – Please educate yourself on medical information protections.
All – You may think you sound smart by comparing vaccine passports to showing papers/holocaust but you don’t. Embarrassingly ignorant.
I’m sorry but this is unacceptable. We are not a communist country yet. If this is allowed, what’s next?
“Papers please” No thanks.
While potentially good in concept (hey it provides safety for all in attendance!), here is the reality. Who is being currently vaccinated: people on the front line (first responders, doctors, nurses, people with serious medical conditions, older individuals, people in nursing homes). Ok great, these folks need to be. They are at highest risk. How likely is it for them to travel? Look at the categories. Not likely. It would not be in Disney financial interest to adopt the vaccine passport protocol. Though they very well may, there management does not seem to be too good these days. But it eliminate many people who are healthy, willing and able to travel as many of the healthy are not able to get the vaccine due to many states rules.
sounds like a hippa violation to me. no way are get going to get this experimental vaccine! You can’t force people to be vaccinated for ANYTHING! COVID is no exception…it’s the flu folks…back to work please.
You Americans have been so brainwashed by your previous leadership that many of you still don’t believe the virus is real. We are coming down in September, but only if we get a vaccine. Baffled why so many of our US friends are against getting a vaccine. Disney or Universal or movie theaters will NEVER ask for proof of vaccine to enter, that’s against citizens rights. But, they can ask for continued use of masks. Please follow Healthcare guidelines so Canada will open the border. Disney needs international guests.
Children in the United States cannot attend public school without a measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine and proof that they have received it. This is just as important. The loss of life in this country and around the world is tremendous due to the pandemic. I would be happy to not only get the vaccine, but also to agree to any travel restrictions or bring any affidavits that I need to travel. We don’t live alone in this world, we live with others. It’s not always about just you or me, it’s also about keeping others safe as well.
Of course proof of vaccination should be essential. Those that are refusing vaccinations are relying on the selflessness of the rest of the population to make sure they seek out vaccination centres and have the injection. This is the only way the world will be free of this vicious virus, with Plague-like implications. This constant talk of freedom is way over the top. So are we free to maim and kill people with guns or storm the Senate, and are we free to kill people by infecting them with viral germs. There are many kinds of freedom and it’s choosing the right kind. This will probably be excluded from the comments but it needs to be said over and over.
I will not be travelling from the UK, we are DVC members but now wonder if we will ever go to Disney again.
Not happy with the tests that are not accurate and a vaccine that does not stop you contracting or passing it on. What is the point.
like many have said, it’s my body I decide what is put into it. No one should be prevented/discriminated against travel, work etc over the right to decide what medical interventions they have or not.
Very very sad.
Just out of curiosity , why are my comment seldom posted? Because I don’t agree with you most of the time and this is clearly a “agree with me or don’t bother” blog or maybe it’s because of my comments disagreeing with DIsney leadership,. Are you afraid. I’d you post anything negative towards
you may not have a platform?
99% survival rate???? Where did you make that up from. Tell that to the over 100,000 people that have died from it in the UK. Covid 19 kills people, ask a doctor or nurse that you know and has to deal with it everyday.
Hi I’m a DVc member from U K and as a family have had our flights booked since October for August 2021 on as they say a wing and prayer ! Disney hotel booked ! Flights booked ! I had my first vaccine 10 days ago when my age bracket allowed me first in the queue !! Life’s for living and so long as we can think of everyone, Be sensible and look after each other by our actions marks social distancing etc let’s hope we can move forward and see the mouse in August . !!
Just a footnote I had the AZ jab no side affects whatsoever !!
Can everyone just take a deep breath? No one is forcing anyone to do anything. Right now, this is just people talking – you know, like what normal people do before decisions get made. We need to look at the bigger picture of “what can we do to keep people safe”. If you don’t want to get a vaccine or a “vaccine passport”, then don’t. If you think it violates your rights, fine, voice your opinion. But – you can’t complain when you’re not allowed to go somewhere because you didn’t do it. Maybe you’re upset that it’s the Government who would be making the rules. I get that. No one wants to be told what to do. However, private businesses have the right to make their own rules (Ex. no shirt, no shoes, no mask, etc.). I’m neither condoning it nor condemning it. I’m just choosing to not get upset because of something that may or may not come to fruition.
People seem to be confusing measles, mumps and rubella vaccines with the flu vaccines. Measles do not mutate. It is really hard to get measles once you are vaccinated. The flu mutates. You can still get a variant even if you are vaccinated.
I would be very surprised if this came to pass at Walt Disney World. I think people are getting way ahead of themselves.
If getting the vaccine and having it noted on my passport means I can get rid of wearing a mask, then I’m for it. But if not, then what is the point other than making it harder to travel? Maybe we should check Ben Franklin’s words regarding security and freedom? they seem more poignant today.
I am an annual pass holder. I have gone to the parks once a week since they have reopened. I wear the mask however there is no way that I would continue to go if Disney mandated a vaccine or any proof of a vaccine. The president can not even mandate vaccines and they are not mandated in Florida. If this actually comes to pass I would not frequent the parks and I would cancel every one of the 10 cruises I have booked with Disney. There are many reasons why someone wouldn’t have the vaccine. I really don’t think this will happen. Disney can not even ask about a medical condition when you are requesting a DAS pass so I would be very surprised if this actually came to pass. I can see them requesting a negative test result before cruising but not for the parks which are mainly outside. Also it is very easy to get proof of a vaccine you haven’t received so bottom line this would not even guarantee that all the people entering have really had one.