USING COVID-19 status certificates to help re-open society risks discrimination, the Equality and Human Rights Commission have warned.

Though they agree that the certificates could be helpful in principle, they claim the measures could also lead to a “two-tier society whereby only certain groups are able to fully enjoy their rights”.

The commission, which is independent added that any mandatory vaccination policy is “likely to be unlawful”.

In February 2021, The Voice interviewed prime minister Boris Johnson and asked whether vaccine passports might lead to a society divided along race or class lines.

He said: “There are sectors, such as the care home sector where obviously there is a particular need for elderly relatives to be protected from COVID.  I can see very clearly why responsible care home managers might want to strongly to encourage their staff to [get vaccinated].”

Currently, it is against the law for employers to ask questions about the health of a job applicant except in specific circumstances.

Still, ministers are considering a proposal to give care home managers the ability to require care home staff to be vaccinated.

The prime minister added that he hoped to ensure everyone was vaccinated before such a question arose, claiming it was “too early” to start talking about “certification stuff”.

At that time, it had already been widely reported that black British communities were more hesitant than their white peers about taking a COVID-19 vaccine.

The commission claims vaccine certificates might be discriminatory towards people from certain ethnic minority backgrounds, migrants, those from poorer socio-economic backgrounds and anyone who cannot take the COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons.

If a certificate is required to enjoy social activities, go to work, travel or access essential services, certain groups could be excluded.

They also pointed out that any vaccine passport policy would have to be sure not to discriminate against younger people, who have not yet been offered vaccines.

Baroness Kishwer Falkner, who chairs the commission said that if the government intended to use the certificates, it must only be for a time-limited period.

She added that Parliament would have to regularly review the policy, and that people who were unable to take the vaccine should be able to easily access paperwork that proves they are exempt.

She explained: “We would monitor the rollout to ensure the right balance is struck between protecting the public’s health and our individual freedoms.”

Ministers have previously suggested that the measures would only be introduced for a limited time period.