Skip to main content
Home

Main navigation

  • Top stories
  • Health
  • Crime
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Weird
  • 1-1-2
Image
Mark Rutte wearing a face mask at a EU summit in Brussels, 2 October 2020
Mark Rutte wearing a face mask at a EU summit in Brussels, 2 October 2020 - Credit: Ale_Mi / DepositPhotos - License: DepositPhotos
Health
Politics
Coronavirus
vaccine
coronavirus vaccination
EU
Mark Rutte
vaccination passport
European Commission
Friday, 26 February 2021 - 08:38
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • reddit

Too soon for a Covid vaccination passport, Dutch PM says

In principle, Prime Minister Mark Rutte is not against a coronavirus vaccination passport, that would give people who have been vaccinated more freedom to travel and do other activities. But it is currently too early to consider implementing such a document, he said to RTL Nieuws after a video call with his EU colleagues on the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the departing Prime Minister, the main stumbling blocks for a vaccination passport aren't political, but technical in nature. "We really still have to debate this in the Netherlands. There are a number of fundamental questions surrounding it," he said.

For example, there is still a lot of uncertainty about the effectiveness of vaccines, also in view of new strains of the virus popping up. There are still no absolute certainties about to what extent the various vaccines protect a person against infection, or from them passing an infection on. "Although the first reports are not unfavorable," Rutte said.

A number of countries are pushing for the introduction of a digital vaccine passport that would give EU citizens the same rights to free travel and the like in all EU Member states. Rutte said that such a document "may be useful in the future".

According to the European Commission, it will take at least another three months of technical preparations before such a certificate can be issued.

Follow us:

Latest stories

  • New center-left coalition in The Hague presents its plans
  • Man sentenced to 5 years in prison for sextortion of dozens of underage girls
  • Sustainability plans for Amsterdam flats faltering over homeowner association fights
  • September second warmest ever recorded with 17.5°C average temperature
  • Dutch King, Rotterdam mayor visit neighborhood affected by shootings last week
  • Dutch universities raise concerns over Cabinet's plan to reduce English instruction

Top stories

  • Suspect in Rotterdam killings arraigned Wednesday; Was to be evicted before shootings
  • Gov't to compensate 3,000 families around Schiphol for noise pollution
  • Gender wage gap increases to 7.4% in Netherlands
  • Amsterdam preparing to lower speed limit to 30 kilometers per hour
  • Over €100,000 raised for Rotterdam shooting victims
  • RKC goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen regains consciousness after on-field collapse

© 2012-2023, NL Times, All rights reserved.

Footer menu

  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Partner content