As the second national lockdown is set to end tomorrow, the UK Government has four vaccines waiting for final approval from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
Prior to the four drugs – from Moderna, Pfizer and BioNTech, Oxford University and AstraZeneca and Novavax – being given final approval, Government ministers have indicated hospitality venues may ban members of the public entering unless they have been vaccinated.
Immunity certificates or ‘freedom passes’ have been proposed to allow access to hospitality venues.
Following reports, an Express.co.uk poll – which ran from 8am to 8pm – asked readers whether those who refuse the vaccine should be allowed into bars and restaurants.
Out of 4,814 votes, 2,456 said those who refuse the vaccine should be barred from visiting the hospitality venues.
Britons split over coronavirus passports (Image: Getty)
Britons split on barring non-vaccinated people (Image: Express)
In a close vote, 2,272 said they should not be banned, while one percent (86) said they didn’t know.
The comments section reflected the tight Express.co.uk poll.
One person said: “People have every right to refuse the vaccination but they can’t expect to go into places where they could cause infection.
“The only alternative is to be tested before entry to pubs and restaurants.
READ MORE: Desmond Swayne furiously erupts at ‘vaccine passport’ in Commons
Non-vaccinated people could be banned from pubs (Image: Getty)
“These are not normal times. Imagine if the small pox vaccine had been refused.”
Someone else said the vaccine is not a “conspiracy, it’s a way back to normal”.
Another person made the point most pubs and restaurants are struggling financially so unlikely to turn away any customers, vaccinated or not.
A third reader added: “We need a lot more information about the vaccines really, as scientists say they do not know if they stop transmission or if you can catch it again or a new variant of it.
DON’T MISS
Pubs and football stadiums could BAN Brits without ‘immunity passport’ [REVEAL]
Piers Morgan vows to take coronavirus vaccine LIVE on GMB [COMMENT]
Britain recruits an ‘army’ of novices to administer COVID vaccines [INSIGHT]
UK coronavirus cases mapped (Image: Express)
“Plus, I need to know a lot more about side effects.
“I think all politicians in Parliament, the Royal Family and the Government scientists should have the vaccine first!
“This would give people a lot more confidence in it.”
A fourth person suggested allowing the venues to decide for themselves whether to accept entry to unvaccinated people.
Pubs could ban people who refuse vaccine (Image: Getty)
They said: “Allow pubs to make their own minds up.
“Some will go the safe route and insist on vaccine passports, others could go risky.
“As long as the punters know which is which there’s no problem.”
Another person added: “If people do not want the vaccine, it is their choice.
Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab (Image: Mirror)
“If you decide to have the vaccine then you have nothing to worry about do you?
“Or do you? Possible deadly side effects, brain damage, other organ damage.
“The truth is no one, not one person on this planet, knows what long term side effects are going to be.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock indicated an immunity certificate has been discussed while new vaccine deployment minister, Nadhim Zahawi, stated hospitality venues may use the NHS app to determine who can enter the venue.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock (Image: Getty)
He told the BBC: “We are looking at the technology.
“And, of course, a way of people being able to inform their GP that they have been vaccinated.
“But, also, I think you’ll probably find that restaurants and bars and cinemas and other venues, sports venues, will probably also use that system – as they have done with the test and trace app.
“I think that in many ways the pressure will come from both ways.
“From service providers who’ll say: ‘Look, demonstrate to us that you have been vaccinated.’
“But, also, we will make the technology as easy and accessible as possible.”
