Coronavirus: what is it and where does the “vaccine passport” start to be used?

As governments progress with their vaccination plans for the population, some are starting to think about future implementation of a “Vaccination passport”. World Health Organization (WHO) has already announced that the subject “is on the agenda”, while Sweden and Denmark are working on creating digital certificates and hope to have them ready by summer. Several airlines have also communicated their decision to go in the same direction. In Argentina, for the moment, there is no progress in this type of initiative, as indicated in TN.com.ar sources from the Ministry of Health.

In order to reverse the crisis that caused the coronavirus pandemic in the sector, airlines began to join in the use of the health passport developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA ). Singapore Airlines partially implemented an app on some of its flights in December. As well Etihad Airways and Emirates they will soon start using a digital pass.

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As indicated a few weeks ago by the expert of the immunology service of the European office of the WHO Oleg Benesh, the implementation of this type of document “is on the agenda of the International Committee for Medical and Health Standards”. While the international organization analyzes the scientific, regulatory and ethical aspects of this initiative, The European Union confirmed on Thursday that it was also debating the possibility of integrating it.

What is the vaccination passport?

A vaccination passport is documents proving that a person has been immunized against the coronavirus. Depending on the design, some would also be used to verify the existence of a negative test result or the existence of antibodies after the onset of the disease. The versions currently under development in different parts of the world are digital.

What is the purpose of these documents? As vaccination plans progress, it is likely that there will be activities that only people who have been vaccinated will be able to do, such as taking a flight or going to a concert, for example. Having a digital certificate would serve as a practical test.

The initiative is not new. That a person must show that she is vaccinated Participating in certain activities or entering certain countries is something that happened decades ago. To travel, many had to prove that they were immune to diseases such as yellow fever, rubella and cholera. Usually, after being vaccinated, travelers receive a signed and stamped “yellow card” known as the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis.

However, there are those who question the implementation of this type of initiative, because millions of people around the world still cannot prove their identity because they don’t have a passport, birth certificate or documents. In addition, amid complaints of unequal distribution of vaccines, the fact that the presentation of these certificates is an exclusive requirement to carry out certain activities or circulate freely in countries could be a further reason for discrimination.

Where is the vaccination passport used?

Russia was one of the first countries to propose the creation of vaccination or immunity passports and announced the upcoming entry into service of a digital document on the State Services Portal, an initiative similar to that of Israel, what will deliver “Green passports” for the vaccinated, in order to facilitate their mobility.

Sweden announced on Thursday that it is developing digital vaccination certificates that will be used for travel and also for other activities. Denmark makes an announcement to the same effect. Both countries have indicated that the passes will allow free travel, but could also be used to attend cultural or sporting events.

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The Swedish government has stated that expects to have the necessary infrastructure to apply these certificates digital in June. For their part, the Danish authorities have assured that they have not yet made a decision on whether passports will be used for more than travel, pending whether or not people who have already been vaccinated can continue to transmit the virus. .

The two Nordic countries assured that the goal is that the national vaccination passports are compatible with international certificates, which are the subject of studies by the WHO and the European Union.