Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the United States is taking a \u201cvery close look\u201d at the idea of requiring vaccine passports for travelers coming in and out of the U.S., according to reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking<\/a> to ABC on Friday, the Homeland Security secretary appeared open to the concept of requiring a vaccine passport for international travelers. He appears to justify the idea with his devotion to ensuring that \u201cthe value of diversity, equity, and inclusion\u201d are central in vaccine distribution. In other words, officials must ensure that \u201cany passport that we provide for vaccinations is accessible to all and that no one is disenfranchised,\u201d Mayorkas said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone should get vaccinated,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Republican officials have already begun to take action against the use of vaccine passports. Earlier this month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed<\/a> a measure, Senate Bill (SB) 2006, banning the use of vaccine passports in the Sunshine State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn Florida, your personal choice regarding vaccinations will be protected and no business or government entity will be able to deny you services based on your decision,\u201d Desantis said<\/a> at the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His administration is currently in the midst of a battle with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the cruise industry over vaccine passports, as the CDC recently cleared a Celebrity Cruises ship to set sail out of Port Everglades. However, all guests 16 and over must be \u201cfully vaccinated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCompanies doing business in Florida, including Celebrity Cruises, should immediately cease to impose such discriminatory policies upon individuals,\u201d DeSantis said<\/a>, noting they will be subject to a $5,000 fine \u201ceach time they require a customer to present a \u2018vaccine passport\u2019 for service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe look forward to seeing Celebrity Cruises set sail in compliance with Florida law,\u201d the governor added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, in the neighboring state of George, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) took action, signing<\/a> a measure effectively banning the use of vaccine passports in the Peach State \u2014 a protocol which extends to schools, kindergarten through the university level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n