DeSantis Nixes COVID-19 Vaccine Passports In Florida

As he indicated he would do, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed an Executive Order prohibiting Florida-issued "vaccine passports".

Ron DeSantis signed an executive order Friday that banned the businesses and the state government from requiring people in the state to use vaccine credentials to go about their business.

This essentially prohibits local governments from issuing any sort of vaccine credentials and business from requiring them for entry and service.

Per the executive order, Florida seeks to ensure that "every Floridian who desires a COVID-19 vaccine can obtain one", emphasizing they will "not be mandated" and adding that vaccine passports "reduce individual freedom and will harm patient privacy".

Businesses must comply with the ban against vaccine passports to be eligible for grants and contracts funded through state revenue, according to the order.

The governor also expressed concern that requiring a vaccine passport or similar measures would "create two classes of citizens based on vaccination".

As of this week, more than 2 million Floridians have been infected by the virus, and almost 33,500 have died. They also can not "publish or share" anyone's COVID-19 vaccination status. Vaccinations are mandatory by August 1, Nova Southeastern University said in an email announcing a Friday morning news conference. However, businesses are still allowed to institute COVID-19 screening protocols.

The university has 6,314 undergraduate students and 14,574 advanced degree students at its main campus in Davie, and across campuses in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miami, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach Gardens, Tampa and Puerto Rico.