Recently, thousands of Portuguese citizens have come together to protest the European Vaccination Card in Portugal. This digital health pass is being tested in five EU countries and has raised concerns about privacy, freedom, and data security. The two main petitions against the project was signed by thousands that highlight these potential dangers. Many worry that the card could lead to more government control over personal health decisions.
Read More About: CP Strike Suspended After Agreement With Union To Resume Train Services In Portugal
Petitions Against European Vaccination Card In Portugal
The first petition is called the Petition for the Rejection of the European Vaccination Card. It has already gained more than 16,500 signatures. This is over double the number needed for parliament to consider it. Another petition was created by three health experts from Portugal’s Directorate-General for Health (DGS). Both petitions raise serious concerns about the card’s purpose and its impact on Portuguese citizens’ freedoms.
The European Vaccination Card And The EUVABECO Project
The European Vaccination Card is part of a larger EU plan called EUVABECO which stands for European Vaccination Beyond Covid. The EU says this plan will help manage vaccination across Europe by 2030. The card itself will act as a digital vaccination record that anyone can access across borders by allowing health officials in other EU countries to check a person’s vaccination status.
The EU believes this will make travel and healthcare easier. However, many in Portugal feel that the card can violate their individual rights to privacy and freedom.
Some people believe the European Vaccination Card is the first step toward more control over citizens personal health data. They fear it could lead to serious problems. First, they worry it may reduce personal freedom.
This card will create a system where each person’s health choices are tracked. Possibly the government will control them. This level of oversight raises concerns as it would create a society where health decisions are no longer private.
Points Of Concern Raised By The Petition
Another major worry is that this card will lead to discrimination. Just as the Covid-19 digital certificate caused issues, the European Vaccination Card can also cause unequal treatment. People who choose not to follow specific vaccination recommendations may be denied access to essential services, travel, or jobs. This will limit their freedom to make personal health choices without fear of negative consequences.
Privacy is another key issue. Centralizing all health data in one system increases the risk that this private information can be misused. The vaccination card is to improve health tracking. But some worry that the data will be used for purposes other than health which will lead to increased surveillance.
A further concern is that the card can give a false sense of security. The EU says it will improve public health but critics feel that this safety should not come at the cost of constant surveillance. They argue that monitoring people’s health data is an unnecessary step too far in the name of safety.
Perhaps the most concerning issue is global control. Linking the European Vaccination Card to other projects like digital identity and digital currency means a person’s daily life depends on their health data.
Opponents argue that access to basic services, banking, and personal identification will become tied to one’s vaccination status. This will create a society where people feel pressured to follow certain health guidelines even if they do not agree with them.
Portugal SNS 24 Health System
Many Portuguese citizens feel that the European Vaccination Card is unnecessary. Portugal already has a system that records vaccinations in a central database. This system which is available through the SNS 24 portal allows people to access their health records and vaccination history.
Critics question why there is a need of new EU-wide system as the system is already in place. They believe this new card only makes things more complex and does not provide clear benefits for citizens. It appears to be more about control than convenience to them
Portugal Health Directorate (DGS) Debate Against Card
Support from professionals in the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) has strengthened the opposition. Three professionals within the DGS signed the second petition. They argue that Portugal’s current system respects personal freedom and privacy.
These DGS professionals urge Portuguese citizens to think about the impact the European Vaccination Card could have on their lives and privacy. They call on Portugal’s health authorities to protect citizens from what they consider an invasive system.
The debate over the European Vaccination Card has increased concerns about privacy and freedom in Europe. Many digital health measures introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic were originally meant to be temporary.
However, some fear that these measures are becoming permanent. The European Vaccination Card represents the next step in this trend which is why many Portuguese citizens view it as a serious threat to their privacy and freedom.
European Vaccination Card Violates Laws Of Human Rights
Those who oppose the card also argue that it goes against several laws that protect privacy and data rights. They believe the European Vaccination Card violates these laws by allowing too much access to personal health data which is going to lead to discrimination and loss of freedom.
European Vaccination Card violates following laws:
- Article 8 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union
- Article 35 of the Portuguese Constitution
- Article 16 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU
This issue is urgent because the pilot project for the European Vaccination Card has already begun. If Portugal rejects the card now, it might influence other EU countries to reconsider their participation. It can also push the EU to rethink the EUVABECO project and address privacy and freedom concerns more carefully.
The movement against the European Vaccination Card represents a key moment in the debate over health, technology, and personal rights. If Portugal listens to these petitions and decides not to participate, it will send a strong message about the importance of privacy and freedom in the EU. This will set a precedent for other digital health policies across Europe
