Texas Gov Bans Vaccine Passports with Executive Order: 'Don't Tread on Our Freedom'
Governor Greg Abbott has banned government-mandated vaccination proof
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The Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has signed an executive order to ban so-called "vaccine passports" from being mandated by the federal government in his state.
Gov. Abbott announced Tuesday morning that he has signed the new executive order to protect Texans from being forced to produce proof of a COVID-19 vaccination.
The order, signed by Abbott on Monday, prohibits any regulation that requires Texans to produce documentation to prove they have been vaccinated before they can go about their daily lives.
"Every day, Texans return to normalcy as more people get the COVID vaccine," Abbott said in a Tuesday morning video message.
"In fact, this week, Texas will surpass 13 million doses administered," he noted.
"Those shots help slow the spread of COVID, reduce hospitalizations, and reduce fatalities."
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"But, as I have said all along, these vaccines are always voluntary and never forced," the governor assured his people.
"Government should not require any Texan to show proof of vaccination and reveal private health information just to go about their daily lives.
"That is why I issued an executive order that prohibits government-mandated vaccine passports in Texas."
"We will continue to vaccinate more Texans and protect public health and we will do so without treading on Texans' personal freedoms," he added.
Early Tuesday morning, Abbott tweeted, "Texans shouldn't be required to show proof of vaccination & reveal private health information just to go about their daily lives.
"I issued an Executive Order that prohibits government-mandated vaccine passports in Texas.
"Don't tread on our personal freedoms."
WATCH:
Texans shouldn't be required to show proof of vaccination & reveal private health information just to go about their daily lives.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 6, 2021
I issued an Executive Order that prohibits government-mandated vaccine passports in Texas.
Don't tread on our personal freedoms. pic.twitter.com/weTbz4FKyH
You can read more about Abbott's executive order here.
The Texas Republican's move follows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R) executive order banning vaccine passports.
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Of such passports, DeSantis previously said, "It's completely unacceptable for either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply participate in normal society.
"You want to go to a movie theater, should you have to show that? No.
"You want to go to a game, a theme park? No.
"So we're not supportive of that."
DeSantis added, "You're going to do this and, what, give all this information to some big corporation?
"You want the fox to guard the henhouse?
"I mean, give me a break."
