Are Vaccine Passports a Good Idea?

1. Set Focus
Frame the inquiry with this essential question: How does a government balance the rights of individuals with the common good?

2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:

• What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether the U.S. federal government or state governments should require vaccine passports. The issue is timely because several countries have implemented vaccine certification systems, allowing those who have been vaccinated to do certain things that unvaccinated people are not allowed to do.)

• Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Both Sandra Beattie and Steven Johnson work in state governments and help set public policy.) 

• Analyze Beattie’s view. (Beattie argues in favor of vaccine passports. She says that a vaccine certification system would help businesses reopen and allow people to feel safe in going back to the things they love to do. She also says that the incentive to get the vaccine will increase as more businesses require vaccination, which will help us end the pandemic.)

•  Analyze Johnson’s view. (Johnson argues against vaccine passports. He says that implementing a vaccine passport system will create two classes of citizens, with vaccinated citizens having more rights than those who aren’t vaccinated. He says that this is an affront to a founding principle of the country: equal treatment under the law.)

4. Writing Prompt
In an essay, evaluate one of the debaters’ arguments. Assess whether the reasoning is valid and whether it’s supported with evidence. Point out biases or missing information.

5. Classroom Debate
Are vaccine passports a good idea? Have students use the authors’ ideas, as well as their own, in a debate.

6. Vote
Go online to vote in Upfront’s poll—and see how students across the country voted.