The Welsh government has announced that people who take the COVID vaccine will get immunisation ID cards, raising the prospect that people could need to prove they’ve taken the shot before being allowed to enter venues.

“Wales’ Health Minister Vaughan Gething confirmed on Wednesday that people there will receive a credit-card sized immunisation card which states the type of vaccine and the date it was administered,” reports the Daily Mirror.

“Those receiving a Covid-19 vaccination will be given a credit card-sized NHS Wales immunisation card which will have the vaccine name, date of immunisation and batch number of each of the doses given handwritten on them,” said Gething.

“These will act as a reminder for a second dose and for the type of vaccine, and it will also give information about how to report side effects,” he added.

As we previously highlighted, UK vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi also suggested that bars, restaurants, sports stadiums and cinemas would soon demand to see proof of vaccination before allowing customers to enter.

Several airlines have also indicated that they won’t allow passengers to board planes, particularly for long haul flights, if they cannot prove they are immunised against coronavirus.

By placing the onus on companies and service providers to demand proof of inoculation, governments can claim they are not mandating the vaccine.

However, given that travel and any kind of normal social life would be virtually impossible without getting the shot, people who refuse to do so will basically be under a de facto permanent lockdown.