VACCINE passports to travel abroad could damage public trust in the jab, a group of MPs has heard today.

But the All-Party Parliamentary Group on coronavirus, led by Oxford MP Layla Moran, also heard the passport scheme may be an 'inevitability' for taking flights in future, as other countries are introducing similar schemes.

The APPG on coronavirus warned in a report earlier this week that Brits should be discouraged from taking foreign holidays any time this year, even after restrictions on international travel end on May 17.

ALSO READ: Council closes house after 70 loud music noise complaints

The group of MPs has now heard from experts on the ethics and practicalities of the UK Government creating a vaccine passport.

Stephen Reicher, a member of the SAGE subcommittee advising on behavioural science, told the APPG's evidence session today that some people could be put off by the 'compulsion' to get a vaccine so they could travel abroad, watch live football, or even go to the pub.

He said: "If the suggestion of a vaccine passport for basic activities reduces the proportion of people who are willing to get vaccinated, it becomes counterproductive."

Prof Reicher instead advocated for more engagement with people more likely to mistrust those in authority, citing BAME communities and young people in particular.

Tolullah Oni, a public health physician and urban epidemiologist, said vaccines could not be considered a 'silver bullet' in the fight against Covid.

ALSO READ: Dog dies after swallowing disposable mask in Oxfordshire park

She added: "This is an exceptional situation but it is by no means the last health emergency we will face, so the work to building that community trust for future starts now.

"We need to be very careful about compromising trust that is only slowly being painstakingly built during this pandemic."

Chairing the meeting, Oxford West and Abingdon MP Ms Moran said: "One of the arguments for the vaccine passports, possibly the strongest, is it incentivised people to take the vaccine. What I am hearing from your evidence is we risk the opposite happening."

While the scientists were reluctant to recommend the need for vaccine passports, industry figures from the world of football and air travel warned of the consequences of not having one.

Henk van Klaveren, head of public affairs at the Airport Operators Association, told the APPG vaccine passports were 'an inevitability'.

The European Commission released plan on Monday to reopen travel from June to anyone who had been fully vaccinated.

Mr van Klaveren added: "Whether we have a view or not on whether they are the right thing for travel we just need to adapt to the reality that they are happening."

Bill Bush, Executive Director of the Premier League, said lockdowns and social distancing had been 'economically and socially extremely harmful' and added some kind of verification could help football return to normal.