Masked passengers line up at Ronald Reagan National Airport just outside Washington, DC.
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As international travel becomes possible again after more than a year of largely staying at home, proving your COVID-19 vaccination status (or maybe just a negative COVID-19 test) will be part of globetrotting. Some countries, including those in the European Union and nations with economies dependent on tourism, are pushing ahead either with real vaccine passport plans or allowing vaccinated visitors to skip quarantine requirements for entry. The private sector, most notably cruise lines and airlines, is also eagerly climbing aboard. But the idea is not without controversy.
Proving you're vaccinated to travel abroad isn't a new concept -- some countries have required yellow fever vaccines for years -- but doing so for COVID-19 would be on a far grander scale than ever before and would present immense logistical challenges. Passport skeptics also predict they could result in discrimination and fraud, encourage risky behavior in the face of new coronavirus variants, and be a privacy minefield. As the debate continues, here's what we know.
This story has been updated with new information.
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How would a COVID-19 vaccine passport work?
Despite its name, the vaccine passport (or vaccine certificate) likely wouldn't be like the little booklet you present to immigration officials when you cross an international border. Rather, the most probable concept is a mobile app with a scannable barcode that shows your vaccination status. The app could also allow you to check entry requirements for a country (possibly after uploading your itinerary) and hold the status of your last COVID test, and maybe other health information. For people without smartphones, some proponents are pushing for an alternative paper version.
The multiple apps in development could verify your vaccination a few ways. Perhaps you could take a photo of a paper vaccination certificate, but that method opens the door to possible forgery. A better option would link apps to databases that hold vaccination records. In the US, that data is held not at the federal level, but by individual states.
Is a vaccination passport being used now?
Not yet, at least on a cross-border basis. But Israel, which is leading the world in vaccination rates, has launched a "green passport" that gives holders access to places like gyms, theaters, hotels, concerts and synagogues. New York state has announced an app called Excelsior Pass, which shows your vaccination proof or the results of a negative COVID-19 test (you must also show a photo ID).
Is there just one version of a vaccination passport in development?
Currently, a few businesses and organizations are working to create passports. Here's a partial list.
One is the International Air Transport Association, a trade group based in Montreal that represents 290 airlines worldwide. The IATA is developing an app called Travel Pass that would let users upload documentation to prove vaccination status. It would also allow passengers to check health entry requirements for countries they plan to visit and find COVID testing centers -- either before they leave for a trip or upon arrival. Eventually, the Travel Pass could incorporate biometric information, such as a thumbprint or facial recognition, to prove a person's identity.
The IATA says 23 airlines, including Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and the parent company of British Airways, are testing Travel Pass. The organization says airlines would have the option of integrating the data into their own apps. Digital Health Pass, which enables "organizations to verify health credentials for employees, customers and visitors entering their site based on criteria specified by the organization."
Clear, the registered traveler program that allows you to speed through security at US airports, is pushing its own app's
Other possible apps include the , and .
The IATA is developing Travel Pass for its member airlines.
IATA
Won't it be confusing to have several apps?
Will all vaccines qualify?
Which countries will use use vaccine passports?
What has the US government said?
Have any places already changed entry requirements for vaccinated travelers?
Does the US require a COVID vaccination for tourists?
Where is the pushback coming from?
What does the World Health Organization say?
Are cruise lines interested?
Qantas said it will require international passengers to be vaccinated.
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What about airlines?
What are the arguments in favor of a vaccine passport?
Bring about a long-awaited return to "normal" life.Encourage people to get the shot, which would reduce COVID-19 transmission.Better protect front-line workers in the medical, travel, hospitality and service industries -- and everyone else around you.Allow countries to fully reopen their economies.What are the arguments against a vaccine passport?
There are a few critical ones here, as well:
They could result in inequality and discrimination, not just for people in developing countries where the vaccine is less available, but for richer countries that have been slower to inoculate their residents. It would also be unfair for communities who and those who decline the vaccine for religious or cultural reasons.Privacy advocates are concerned about the security of apps that will hold private, critical information about a user's health. It would be yet another app loaded with personal data that could be vulnerable to hacking or misuse. Many app developers counter that they're securing the apps through , which means the data wouldn't be stored in one place.As the vaccine doesn't bring total immunity, it could bring a false sense of security and lead to risky behavior and the rise of new COVID-19 variants.If used for everyday activities, it may lead to coercion of vaccines.If I'm not vaccinated, could I get by with a negative COVID test result?
The WHO Yellow Card lists a bearer's vaccination status.
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