Watford readers are divided over the proposal of introducing a vaccine passport as part of the road map for releasing England’s coronavirus lockdown.

Boris Johnson announced earlier this week that Michael Gove would head up a review into the idea as the Prime Minister acknowledged the “deep and complex issues” surrounding the introduction of Covid-19 status certificates.

Announcing his road map on Monday, Mr Johnson confirmed that a study into the use of vaccine and testing certificates will be one of four reviews conducted as part of easing the current restrictions.

We asked our readers if they would be happy to carry a passport around after getting a vaccine, and nearly 2,000 people did not hold back their opinions.

And they were certainly mixed, with some readers concerned over its use due to concerns over freedom while others thought it was a good way to minimise risk of another Covid spike.

Readers such as Anna Hillier was among people who were for the idea, saying it would be the “only way back to normality”.

She said: “We all carry phones, bank cards, driving licence etc. students carry student cards, they are all forms of identity. I will be proud to carry a Covid vaccination card. The people who can't have vaccine due to health problems can carry a exemption card.

“Also, many countries will not let you in without proof of vaccine, so it should be the same in this country for staying in hotels or going to indoor venues. We all have to do our bit to control this dreadful virus, because it's going to be around for a long time.”

Carol Freeman agreed, saying: “I believe that we all have to have the vaccine to return to some sort of normality. I wouldn’t want to travel on a plane without proof of a vaccine by other passengers!”

Watford Observer: A patient receives his first dose of the Covid vaccine at Robertson House in Stevenage. Credit: PAA patient receives his first dose of the Covid vaccine at Robertson House in Stevenage. Credit: PA

James Rendall said: “Yes absolutely no problem. Already got a card with date vaccine given, what vaccine it was (Pfizer) so why not use that?”

But some people disagreed with using a vaccine passport – Jacki Jay said there was “not a chance” she would be happy carrying one.

She said: “Why attempt to segregate through choice. Do we not live in a democratic society which allows us freedom of choice??? Why was we given freedom if we could be made to justify our decisions.”

Suzanne Howard added that the move would be a “step too far”.

She said: “It’s one thing to have the vaccine but it’s discrimination against those that don’t want it and don’t have a vaccine passport for all the other vaccines we have had.”

Speaking at a school in south London on Tuesday, Boris Johnson told reporters that the introduction of such certificates should not discriminate against those who opt out of receiving the jab.

“There are deep and complex issues that we need to explore, and ethical issues about what the role is for Government in mandating or for people to have such a thing or indeed in banning from people doing such a thing,” he said.

“We can’t be discriminatory against people who for whatever reason can’t have the vaccine. There might be medical reasons why people can’t have a vaccine.

“Or some people may genuinely refuse to have one. I think that’s mistaken, I think everybody should have a vaccine, but we need to thrash all this out.”

What do you think about the proposal of a vaccine passport? Let us know in the comments.