Does The World Need Global Vax Passport?

Governments around the world are exploring the potential benefits of using ‘vaccine passports’ as a way to reopening the economy by identifying and permitting only those who are protected against COVID-19. While the world awaits herd immunity, millions of vaccinated individuals across the world are eagerly anticipating trade and operational plans at the vaccination horizons. Border checkpoints are reviving vigilance around the globe and countries are exploring novel methodologies to revive international travel, an essential social and business component at present.

- Hithaishi C Bhaskar

As the aftermath of the pandemic continues to pummel international trade and businesses across sectors, a concerted attempt is on to develop and deploy potential technologies such as digital and biometric passports. From the second quarter of 2021, travel corridors were opened for vaccinated individuals with the prospect of the ‘digital vaccine certificate/passport’ as an integral part of international travel. Digital vaccine tracking system, the “vaccine passport” is a form of e-certificate that provides proof of vaccination and COVID-19 test results. Yet, they require international or national coordination on the best practices to implement cross-border vaccine passes.

Vaccine passports are not new to the countries who have already used the Yellow card around 1959, a certificate (a physical paper) to identify individuals vaccinated for Yellow fever. A yellow card was mandatory for those arriving from 42 African and South American countries. Nations around the world implemented Yellow Card vaccine passports specifically to complement various border control measures and not just travel. For decades, ‘yellow cards’ were used as proof of vaccination against diseases like cholera, yellow fever, rubella, and polio as a mandatory pass. However, the COVID-19 vaccine passport marks the first electronic alternative. Hence, extending the system to COVID-19 might face hurdles due to the application of digital format and duration of immunity gained by several vaccines administered around the world still under observation.

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