Smart Talk: Vaccine passports raise privacy concerns

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If you travel to a European country in the near future, you’ll have to prove that you’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19. Airlines and cruise ships may do the same. Several professional sports teams want proof of testing or a vaccination before allowing fans into their stadiums or arenas.

Will that card those vaccinated receive showing that the holder has gotten his or her shots act as a vaccine passport and be required before being admitted to some places, businesses or events?

It has raised privacy issues for some.

On Wednesday’s Smart Talk, we discuss vaccine passports and privacy with Michael L. Seavers, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Healthcare Informatics, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology and Erik Hefti, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.

Domestic violence rates on the rise and insight for prevention

There are reports from across the country and even around the world that incidents of domestic violence have increased during the coronavirus pandemic.

During the last year, more couples and families have been at home together – many that have lost jobs or income or have turned to alcohol or drugs.

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence is on a campaign to prevent domestic violence rather than just make the public aware of it.

PCADV Director of Prevention Kristen Herman joins us on Wednesday’s Smart Talk to talk about the messages.

 

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Pa. Republican lawmakers and the U.S. Capitol attack

As part of WITF’s commitment to standing with facts, and because the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was an attempt to overthrow representative democracy in America, we are marking elected officials’ connections to the insurrection. Read more about this commitment.

In stories, we will use language that identifies lawmakers who took at least one of these actions: signed on to a Texas lawsuit aimed at invalidating Pennsylvania’s election; signed on to a state House or a state Senate letter urging Congressional representatives to object to or delay certification; and voted against certification. Those actions supported President Donald Trump’s election-fraud lie, causing many of his supporters to believe incorrectly that the election had been stolen, and that led to an assault on the U.S. Capitol.

The list of lawmakers is here.

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