The NHS Covid pass could in future be made compulsory for access to large events, according to vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi.
Zahawi told the House of Commons on Thursday (22 July) that if large numbers of people are likely to go to a venue or event, then organisers should use the pass - and the government reserves the right to make its use compulsory in the future.
He said: "This week, after a successful trial, we have rolled out the NHS Covid pass. This allows people safely and securely to demonstrate their Covid status, whether it is proof of vaccination status, test results, or natural immunity.
"People will also be able to demonstrate proof of a negative test result. Although we don’t encourage its use in essential settings like supermarkets, other businesses and organisations in England can adopt the pass as a means of entry where it is suitable for their venue or premises when they can see its potential to keep their clients or their customers safe.
"For proprietors of venues and events where large numbers are likely to gather and likely to mix with people from outside their households for prolonged periods, deploying the pass is the right thing to do.
"The pass has an important role to play in slowing the spread of the virus and so we reserve the right to mandate its use in the future."
Zahawi also confirmed that the government intends to go ahead with making being vaccinated a condition for entry to nightclubs from September, something first revealed by the prime minister in a press conference on Freedom Day, Monday 19 July.
However, there was no further information on exactly which other events could be mandated to use the Covid pass.
In his statement to MPs, Zahawi also revealed that new data suggests that the vaccination programme has prevented 52,000 hospitalisations. He said that this shows that the protection offered by the vaccine wall is getting stronger.
M&IT editor Paul Harvey is a journalist with more than 15 years of experience. He began his career in the local press, working for various titles across the north. Since joining M&IT in 2013, he has become a trusted and respected voice in the sector, championing event professionals and reporting on all aspects of the events industry for the brand.
