President Joe Biden joined Group of 20 leaders this week in signing onto a communique to “build on the success” of global vaccine passports to thwart the spread of the virus.
This is the same U.S. president who declared on national television two months ago that “the pandemic is over.” While his declaration shocked his own administration — which is nothing new — it also runs counter to signing on to further travel passports for the vaccinated.
BREAKING: The Biden administration is extending the COVID-19 “public health emergency” until April 2023, despite Biden’s statement in September that “the pandemic is over.”
This administration doesn’t want to relinquish power over our lives.
Enough is enough.
— Dr. Simone Gold (@drsimonegold) November 15, 2022
The president was in Bali, Indonesia on Wednesday when he met with leaders at the worldwide summit. Part of his agenda was to propose policy protocols for recurring issues that included climate change and global pandemics.
The G20 Bali Leader’s Declaration committed the nations to sharing vaccine technology with others. It also supported the formation of “trusted global digital health networks.”
These were proposed to better defend against future health crises, including pandemics.
The group agreed on internationally sharing “technical standards and verification methods.” The goal of this cooperation was stated as “seamless international travel, interoperability,” and use of solutions such as proof of vaccination.
The countries operate under a 2007 World Economic Forum mandate that instituted tighter health controls and documentation at border crossings. It also introduced the usage of international vaccination certificates.
As the COVID-19 pandemic raged, many feared the U.S. government’s willingness to mandate vaccination requirements at international and even state borders.
That concern, for the time being, was dampened in May 2021 when the Biden administration said that it would not implement federal vaccination passports.
Then-Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced that the government did not presently and would not in the future support a program “that requires Americans to carry a credential.” She shot down worries over a federal vaccination database or nationwide mandate to issue credentials.
That declaration, however, appears to run contrary to the G20’s unanimous edict that appears to favor international vaccine mandates. Some European Union nations still mandate proof of full vaccination before entering.
It is also counter to the president’s public assertion that the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
