Majority of Oregonians surveyed support 'immunity passports' in response to COVID-19
EUGENE, Ore. - More Oregonians support "immunity" or "vaccine" passports than U.S. residents in general, according to a recent survey by a biotechnical products company.
MyBioSource.com conducted a survey of 3,000 Amercians on the topic.
"It found that that opinion was quite divided – overall, 67% of Oregonians believe immunity passports should be issued as proof of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine (compared to a national average of 59%)," the company said.
The survery also found:
- Half of Oregonians think immunity passports should state which company’s vaccine people received.
- 42% of Oregonians say they would be concerned about privacy and data sharing.
According to MyBioSource.com:
It’s a question of social fairness that has grown increasingly pertinent for public health officials as more and more Americans receive their initial dose of the Covid-19 vaccine - should vaccinated people, or those with antibodies have more freedom than those without or who have not been vaccinated?
As some public spaces begin to open up, this conundrum is one that will also be faced by businesses across the country – does an airline prioritize a traveler who has had two vaccine doses over another who has only had one? Or do movie theatre chains have the right to deny a customer who refuses to be vaccinated?
The federal government has said it won't mandate such passports - and the governors of Texas and Idaho have taken steps to outlaw them.
But New York state recently introduced a system to allow residents "to access a code on their cellphone or a printout to show they have been vaccinated or recently tested negative for the coronavirus."
According to MyBioSource.com:
Proponents argue that introducing these is a logical step, a process that would speed up the return to normal activities – known as "selective risk stratification."
Opponents, on the other hand, say it has the potential to stigmatize individuals who lack certification, and may also penalize people who are already at a disadvantage because of certain inequalities.
The company also found that 1/3 of those surveyed support a ban on interstate travel for people who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Infographic showing people’s opinions on immunity passports across the country
"While the idea of banning someone from travel based on their vaccination status might divide the opinions of some, it should also be noted that some countries have had immunization certificate requirements in place for a number of years for foreign travelers, to prevent the spread of diseases such as yellow fever and polio," the company said of its findings.
A majority of those surveyed - 60% - think professional sports teams should give preference to ticketholders who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. | MORE on this survey from MyBioSource
