Covid-19: UK says no to 'vaccine passport' for travel

London - Proof of vaccine needed from doctors, UK Vaccine Minister says

The UK government has ruled out plans to introduce "vaccine passports" to allow people, who have been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus, to travel abroad.

Still, people could get evidence from their doctors if they need it for travelling, Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi told the media on Sunday.

Zahawi made the remarks as the issue is under discussion in the UK and beyond.

"Of course you have the evidence that you have been vaccinated held by your GP and if other countries require you to show proof of that evidence, then that is up to those countries," he said.

One of the reasons for not issuing "vaccine passports" is that the vaccine was not mandatory in the UK, Zahawi said.

"That's not how we do things. We do them by consent," he said.

Meanwhile, it was not immediately clear what impact the vaccines would have on transmission of the virus, he said.

Downing Street has confirmed that all British adults aged 50 and older are expected to be offered a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by early May.

More than 12 million people in Britain have been administered the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.