Health and tech leaders like Microsoft develop digital COVID vaccination passports

A coalition of healthcare organizations and tech companies, including Microsoft and Oracle, are working on a project that checks who has received the coronavirus vaccine and prevents others from making false claims.

Called the Vaccination Credential Initiative (VCI), the company aims to help people get encrypted digital copies of their immunization records stored in a digital wallet.

VCI says it is working to create the credentials using the SMART Health Cards specification, which is designed to allow people to store vaccination or lab results in a digital wallet, and could come under the form of a QR code to be scanned for verification.

However, digital passports and paper credentials raise concerns among privacy groups who believe that “ until everyone has access to an effective vaccine, any system requiring a passport for entry or service will be unfair, ” as Privacy International stated.

“The vaccine is a public health exercise and should not be a new discriminator,” the group said on its website.

The group agrees that such recordings are “probably necessary”, but fear they may “open a box of worms”.

“How reliable does this documentation have to be to be reviewed by other vendors?” And who else will want to have access to it? This is where things get complicated. And that’s where the ambitions lie, ”says Privacy International.

VCI does not appear to see its project as being fair, but as a way to help society return to pre-pandemic life and do so safely.

The initiative builds on the Commons Project Foundation, which is working on its Common Pass that allows travelers to present the results of vaccination records or coronavirus tests when they fly and cross borders to other countries.

A few airlines, including United Airlines and JetBlue, are currently testing CommonPass.

Paul Meyer, CEO of The Commons Project, said: “ The goal of the Vaccination Credential Initiative is to give individuals digital access to their immunization records so that they can use tools like CommonPass to return safely. safety in travel, work, school and life. , while protecting the confidentiality of their data. “

“Open standards and interoperability are at the heart of VCI’s efforts and we look forward to supporting the World Health Organization and other global stakeholders in implementing and scaling up global standards. open for the interoperability of health data.

VCI includes big names in tech like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Oracle, as well as Mayo Clinic, a healthcare nonprofit in the United States.

Bill Patterson, executive vice president and general manager of enterprise software company Salesforce, said his company wanted to help organizations customize all aspects of the immunization management lifecycle and integrate tightly. offers from other coalition members, which will help us all come back. in public life.

“With a single platform to help ensure safe and continuous operations and build trust with customers and employees, this coalition will be critical in supporting public health and well-being.

The group predicts that digital passports are vital for air travel and wants to make checking the proof of a vaccine “as easy as online banking.”

However, people without a smartphone would receive paper printed with QR codes containing the credentials.

In the United States, where vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have been approved for emergency use, those vaccinated are given a vaccination record or printout.