Editorials

Is EURO 2020 using vaccine passports a good idea?

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15 June 2021

By Josh P

It has recently been revealed that for the upcoming group stages of EURO 2020, vaccine passports will be used as a means of allowing fans into Wembley for the group stages. But is this fair for most supporters?

Although the initial headlines may have created concerns for younger fans who haven’t had an opportunity to be vaccinated, there are more options available for entry according to the headlines.

Although vaccine passports will be one method of entry, showcasing a negative Coronavirus test will also allow spectators into the event.

The option of utilising negative tests will certainly remove concerns for younger football fans who would have otherwise been unlikely to meet the fully vaccinated criteria for entry to the tournament.

Despite these two methods of entry being designed to prevent the transmission of the virus, is the combined approach a good idea?

Although intended to prevent infection, the Coronavirus vaccine does not have a 100% guaranteed protection rate, so it certainly could be argued that transmission could occur even with a vaccine passport.

With this small chance of vaccinated persons carrying the virus, perhaps the most secure method of transmission prevention at Wembley would be to purely utilise negative tests as an entry requirement.

Again though, it isn’t necessarily a difficult task for somebody to falsely provide a lateral flow test for entry and it could remain possible for infected persons to enter the arena through the use of falsified test results.

It is hard to remain sceptical, however, about the upcoming re-opening of events. It is abundantly clear that many people across the UK desperately need the opportunity to re-engage with social events, with recent studies showing a rise in mental health concerns during the lockdown.

Recommended Reading: EURO 2020: Can Southgate bring it home?

EURO 2020 will certainly be a brilliant opportunity to begin shifting back to normality for thousands of spectators of the sport.

Even with there being a small chance of some coronavirus cases slipping under the radar at EURO 2020, it is clear that organisers have taken all of the necessary precautions to make the event as secure and safe as possible for the public this summer.

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