Last Updated on: March 7, 2023 at 9:27 am
In recent months, governments, airlines, industries and technology experts around the world have worked hard to create a digital solution to verify those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. These digital documents are referred to with a number of different names such as vaccine passports, vaccine certificates, or health passports. While there may be some differences between each type, the main purpose is to easily and accurately convey your vaccination information.
This isn’t the first time digital technology will be used in response to Covid-19. Countries around the world have successfully used safety apps for contact tracing throughout the pandemic. Authorities that have successfully created vaccine passports include the European Union, International Air Transport Association (IATA), airlines and governments.
Several digital health passports are now already in operation, including the EU digital COVID certificate and the IATA Travel Pass. However, the big challenge is creating one universal document that will be accepted worldwide across borders. Vaccine or health passports also must protect travellers’ privacy and ideally, be easily accessible not just on smartphones.
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The health passport is a digital document that shows that passengers have either been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, carry information of recent test results and the individual’s history of contracting the virus, if any.
When you are vaccinated against Covid-19, you will be given a physical vaccine certificate which states your individual serial number, details of when and where the vaccination was administered, the type of vaccine and its batch number. The certificate is signed and stamped and full records are held on government computer systems.
Meanwhile, the digital version of the health passport or certificate is stored on the traveller’s smartphone in a digital wallet, and is usually presented as a QR code.
Think of this vaccination certificate as a modern version of the Yellow Card which travellers used to carry as proof of vaccination against Cholera, Yellow Fever and Rubella as these cards were required by many countries.
A digital health passport comprises a QR code that holds the information that the traveller has been vaccinated, has tested negative for Covid-19 or has recovered from Covid-19. The QR code also carries a digital signature of authenticity from the test centre or health authority responsible for the vaccination or Covid-19 test. This information is presented in English and also in the language of the country of origin. It is possible to get a paper version of the health passport with the QR code.
There have been some concerns about privacy, but health passport developers assure the public that all the information is stored privately on the traveller’s smartphone. This is the first time that an electronic alternative to a paper document has been used – and it’s goal is to make verification easier, more efficient and reliable.
The application process for a digital health passport may vary from country to country. In Southeast Asia, where travel restrictions are still in place, the information on health passports are still at an early stage.
Meanwhile, the EU digital COVID-19 certificate became operational on 1 July 2021. All 27 member states have agreed on the common design and format of the certificate and it can be used by anyone travelling through any member states, plus five non-EU countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City.
The EU digital COVID Certificate is easy to obtain from test centres and health authorities. Full information is available from national health authorities and there is no charge for the certificate.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is currently working with a number of agencies including IATA and the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) to develop internationally agreed standards for digital vaccination passports:
‘In order for vaccine passports to be an internationally practical tool, there will need to be a standardised platform that crosses all borders – such as the current passport system’. Dr Harry Severance, Professor at Duke, University School of Medicine.
‘In order for vaccine passports to be an internationally practical tool, there will need to be a standardised platform that crosses all borders – such as the current passport system’.
IATA was quick off the mark to develop a digital travel passport to help passengers manage their travel plans and to provide airlines and governments with relevant documents. The IATA Travel Pass was launched in late February 2021 to prove travellers have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 or have had a negative PCR test taken within the required period (usually 48-72 hours prior to their flight).
However, the IATA Travel Pass App can only be used if your airline is part of the Travel Pass program. More than 40 airlines including Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Emirates are currently trialling the use of this travel pass. The challenge remains of trying to digitise the process fast enough across borders without people having to pull out different documents for different countries.
One big challenge is the differing nature of access to vaccinations and technology across the world. WHO says that 3.6 billion people worldwide have no internet access and a further 1.1 billion people do not have official identification papers. For these people, paper documents and other options will be essential. People from a number of different countries and regions may not have access either to vaccinations or Covid-19 tests and in reality, the world’s poorer countries will not have vaccines until at least 2023.
Having a digital health passport will not automatically mean that you will be able to travel. You will still need to regularly check entry requirements and travel restrictions for your destination country. How quickly international travel resumes will depend not only on the implementation of health passports, but also on the willingness and speed each country re-opens its borders.
In the Asia- Pacific region, many borders remain closed and governments are discussing various bi-lateral agreements and the creation of ‘travel bubbles’ with their neighbours. Singapore, Taiwan and a number of other countries have already established safe Reciprocal Green Lanes (RGL) with major economic partner countries for business travel.
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