‘Vaccine passports reduce individual freedom and harm patient privacy,’ a spokeswoman for Gov. DeSantis told LifeSiteNews. ‘Allowing businesses and educational institutions to require vaccine passports as a condition of entry or service would entrench an unfair, two-tiered society.’
FLORIDA (LifeSiteNews) – Florida residents and tourists to the Sunshine State do not need to worry about businesses and public entities asking them about their COVID-19 vaccination status thanks to a new law that goes into effect on September 16.
Businesses in Florida “may not require patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-infection recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the business operations in this state,” according to Senate Bill 2006.
Neither can government entities or educational institutions require proof that someone has taken the COVID shot. There is a $5,000 fine for violations of the law.
The law does not prohibit places from putting in place other health screening protocols. It also protects the rights of Floridians to participate in the economy, no matter their personal decision about the COVID jab, according to Governor Ron DeSantis’s spokeswoman.
“Floridians have the right to medical privacy. Individual vaccination records are private health information, which should not be shared by mandate,” Press Secretary Christina Pushaw told LifeSiteNews via email. “Vaccine passports reduce individual freedom and harm patient privacy. Allowing businesses and educational institutions to require vaccine passports as a condition of entry or service would entrench an unfair, two-tiered society.”
“The decision to get a COVID vaccine should be up to individuals, who have the power to make the right choices for themselves and their families,” Pushaw said.
She pushed back on critics of the governor, including agriculture commissioner and 2022 Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried.
“Governor DeSantis is retaliating against Floridians who are trying to protect themselves and their communities from COVID-19,” Fried claimed to the Orlando Sentinel.
Nothing in the law prevents Floridians from taking coronavirus vaccines, wearing masks, or locking themselves inside their homes.