What is the COVID vaccination passport and how will it be used in the US

In the United States, the possibility of creating a vaccine passport or digital proof of COVID-19 vaccination status was raised, with the purpose of avoiding tests to find out if someone is a carrier of the virus or self-quarantine after arriving at a place.

The idea was also presented within the European Union (EU), when the European Commission presented the project “Digital Green Pass”, a digital green certificate that works like a Covid-19 vaccination passport. According to the commission, “it will facilitate safe circulation” within the region.

Unlike the European idea, The US outlined that the passport can be used to enter more countries and other continents. It will be digital form and a complement to the passport that each nation grants.

Several content development companies (such as IBM) are posing as possible competitors to develop the technological application. Some are already working on allowing files needed to verify vaccination can be uploaded, while others hope that there will be an agreement with the centers where they are vaccinated so that the information is loaded automatically.

Unlike vaccination cards that the US government is granting to citizens after agreeing to vaccination, the Covid passport that IBM is already working on will have a “Digital Health Pass” that will display body temperature records, test results and more.

Actually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans fully vaccinated -with one or two doses, it depends on the vaccine to which they have agreed- they can travel throughout the territory as long as they show their vaccination card.

Nevertheless, Within the United States there is a dispute between those who believe that it is necessary for this passport to exist and those who believe that it goes against freedom of transit.

Until now, the White House stated that they will not be mandatory and some political experts assured that this debate could be a central point during the next electoral process for the renewal of members of the Chambers and even for the election of governors.

It is expected that both the Covid passport proposed by the US and the green certificate of the European Union respect data protection, security and privacy, therefore, only Name of the holder, name of the vaccine, the number, the date and the place of vaccination.

Nevertheless, developer companies propose that more data can be accessed. What information is included will depend on the contracts carried out by States and individuals.

In the international context, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Commons Project Foundation are developing the CommonPassThis would create a scannable QR code that shows the vaccination card or card issued by any country.

On the other hand, the International Air Transport Association is also working on the creation of travel passes, Travelers who verify vaccination will be able to access and will avoid anti-Covid tests at airports. This exercise is already being carried out in 22 airlines in the US and the EU.

Nevertheless, the United Nations (UN) does not approve of the imposition of vaccines as a requirement for international travel, since being digital They could violate human rights, increase social and inter-country inequality, and even break international free transit agreements.

Even though proof of vaccination already exists in some nations, it is known as “yellow card” and it is a international certificate of vaccination against diseases such as yellow fever or cholera.

Despite the above, it was reported that the World Health Organization (WHO) is already working on creating a framework for a global vaccination certificate, something that will avoid inequalities, as it will not necessarily be digital and will be widely accepted.

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