Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says he will be issuing an executive order forbidding local governments and businesses from implementing “vaccine passports”, but there are some South Florida residents who think that the document should be necessary for travel.
According to the Associated Press, Gov. DeSantis made the statement on Monday, charging that he would take the additional step of forbidding businesses from refusing to serve people who can’t prove they have been vaccinated.
“It’s completely unacceptable for either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply participate in normal society,” the governor said.
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While the state governor thinks that the document is unreasonable to conduct business, there are some South Florida residents who believe it should be necessary for travel.
“We should have it,” said Douglas Grant, a resident of Broward County, about the vaccine passport. “It protects you and you can use it to go anywhere.”
Similar sentiments were also shared by Biana Loyd, who told CNW Network that “vaccine passports ensure the safety of all passengers, including myself, and whoever needs to get tested.”
But not all South Floridians are for the implementation of the document. Greg McGrowder says that by implementing a vaccine passport, the government would be “forcing him to take something that he definitely doesn’t want.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis has rejected many COVID-19 safety protocols, like mask mandates, in order to keep the state’s economy open. He has also used his executive authority to preempt local governments from enforcing such safety measures.
DeSantis has, however, bolstered vaccine efforts in the state in just a few weeks. More Floridians became eligible for vaccinations on Monday when the state lowered the minimum age to 40. The requirement will be lowered again on April 5 to include anyone age 18 and over.
As of Monday morning, 5.6 million doses of the three coronavirus vaccines have been administered in Florida, according to health statistics provided by the Florida Department of Health.
