Missouri Senate votes to ban vaccine passports

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri's Republican-led Senate on Wednesday voted to ban so-called vaccine passports in the state.

Senators voted 26-7 in favor of a wide-ranging bill that includes a ban on vaccine passports to travel in the state.

Vaccine passports are documentation showing travelers have been vaccinated against COVID-19 or recently tested negative for the virus. Technology companies and travel-related trade groups are developing and testing out vaccine passports to encourage travel.

Gov. Mike Parson has said he won't require vaccine passports, which he emphasized again while speaking on Fox News on Wednesday.

"If people want to carry a card that's fine. It's called freedom. It's called individual rights," Parson said. "But it's not government's place to do that."

The Missouri bill would ban any requirements travelers show proof of vaccination in order to fly, get a taxi or use public transportation in the state.

The bill now goes to the state House for consideration.