PHOENIX – The state’s top health authority said Friday it supports the idea of ”vaccination cards,” but doesn’t want them to be something people have to show to join certain companies.
The issue of passports has been at the fore since the von Biden government said it was developing standards for people to prove they had been vaccinated against COVID-19. While spokeswoman Jen Psaki said there won’t be a national mandate, the idea that people might be asked for their papers has raised concerns.
A Senate panel has already approved a measure to prevent companies from requesting proof of vaccination for customers.
House Bill 2190 also currently prohibits business owners from making this a requirement for employees. But Rep. Bret Roberts, R-Maricopa, said the phrase will likely be removed if the measure goes to the entire Senate.
And Senator Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, seeks Attorney General Mark Brnovich for a legal opinion on whether private companies can make vaccination a condition of patronage or hiring a worker.
“That’s something we see here,” said Dr. Cara Christ.
“If Arizonans want access to this vaccination history, I think there should be a very easy way for Arizonans to do it,” she said. “We want to make that possible, but not as a prerequisite for events or things like that.”
Dr. Christ said she was carrying the paper card she was given when she was vaccinated.
“It would be nice to have an electronic format of it,” said the health director. “But we’re not looking at the department here to make this a requirement.”
Still, said Dr. Christian, this is not an issue for your agency.
“Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to implement mitigation strategies,” she said, to protect themselves from the virus spreading. And that’s not just limited to masks and social distancing.
However, all of this could change depending on Rep. Roberts’ legislation and a possible opinion of Mr. Brnovich.
States are moving in different directions.
New York has developed its “Excelsior Pass,” advertised as a means of “reopening New York’s economy and accelerating the return to pre-pandemic activity.”
But Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last week not only banned government agencies from issuing standardized documents proving vaccinations, but also specifically banned companies from requiring customers to produce documents showing they were either or were vaccinated have recovered.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott issued a similar policy, but with a twist: a private entity that receives or will receive public funding in any way, including grants, contracts, loans, or other taxpayers’ money, could not request documentation.
CJ Karamargin, spokesman for Governor Doug Ducey, said no decisions were made on such an edict here. But Mr Karamargin cited an existing executive order that says the state will not require anyone to be vaccinated.
“There is a track record of thinking in the governor on the matter,” he said.
The vaccine passport issue came up when Dr. Christ detailed how slightly the number of cases of the virus has increased. But the health director said this was expected as more people are going out.
It is also followed by Governor Ducey, who lifts all occupancy limits for bars and restaurants and lifts any mandate for customers and employees to wear masks or to social distance. These are just recommendations.
Dr. However, Christ also said the number of hospitalizations has not increased in a similar manner. She said this may have to do with the increased number of Arizonans being vaccinated – about 2.5 million Arizonans have received at least one dose, with 1.6 million being fully protected – and in particular that the state has the earliest vaccination given priority.
Put simply, those who are vaccinated are less likely to go to hospital and die. Still, she said, people need to assess their own risks if they choose to go out.
“No vaccine is 100% effective,” she said. And Dr. Christ also warned those who may have minor symptoms – or who may not even know they have contracted the virus – to avoid spreading it to those who are more susceptible.
On paper, the latest data as of Friday shows another 1,302 new cases. But Christ said the numbers were misleading.
She said there were 625 cases from November to February that couldn’t be added to the totals due to questions about what kind of tests were being done until now. These include 270 in Gila County, 142 in Graham County, and 213 in Navajo County.
After subtracting these values, the number of new cases was 677, which corresponds to the status of the previous week.
On the subject of vaccines, Dr. Christ, Arizona may be nearing the point where supply exceeds demand.
Arizona expects an additional 339,230 cans in the coming week, for a grand total of more than 4 million.
At the same time, the state is trying to deal with vaccine hesitation among many of those who have not yet been vaccinated or even registered.
Dr. Christ said this isn’t limited to COVID-19 as her agency is finding similar issues with other vaccines.
A strategy is a new public announcement in which she names what she calls “influential leaders” in the community. Many of them are colored people. They say the vaccine is safe and urge people to roll up their sleeves. There are also plans for pop-up vaccination events “run by trusted community providers”.
And then there will be more vaccines being distributed by individual health care providers than just the mass vaccination centers.
“So it will be available where people can normally get their medical care, have a lot of trustworthy advice and guidance, and ask their questions one by one,” said Dr. Christian. “That will help.”
Howard Fischer
@azcapmedia |
Mr. Fischer, a longtime award-winning journalist from Arizona, is the founder and operator of Capitol Media Services.
Twitter: @azcapmedia
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