Vaccine passport, how it works and the states that have introduced it
In many countries the vaccination campaign is well advanced and already a pass has begun to be introduced [...]
In many countries, the vaccination campaign is well advanced and they have already begun to introduce A pass to allow those who have received the vaccine to be able to travel, attend public places and attend live performances. Among the first to launch the vaccination passport, there are Israel, China and the state of New York. The European Union has submitted its proposal for a "digital green certificate" with the goal of introducing it by June, in time for the summer season. But how do vaccine passports work? How are they handled abroad?
The Chinese digital certificate and the Israeli green pass
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The Consular Affairs Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained on its official website the features of the digital certificate. The pass contains details about the holder's Covid-19 vaccination and the results of all coronavirus tests. The goal is to have mutual verification of information such as nucleic acid testing. All Chinese citizens can apply for the digital or paper certificate through the WeChat platform, a document certifying the holder's immunization. The purpose is to help promote global economic recovery and facilitate cross-border travel. All information is encrypted in a QR code that can be verified, decrypted and read by the relevant authorities.
Instead, on February 21, the following was released the Israeli passport for vaccines thanks to the massive vaccination campaign carried out by the state. As restaurants, bars, museums and clubs reopened, the green passport was made official, allowing those vaccinated and/or cured of Covid to be able to frequent public places. This document allows one to move around the nation but not cross borders. After receiving the vaccine, one can download an app that shows the "green pass."
New York state's choice and the European Union's proposal.
The vaccination campaign also continues apace in the United States. New York state has thus introduced a vaccine passport. to attend major events and certify their health conditions. The Excelsior Pass, that's the name of the document, has already been adopted by Madison Square Garden, in the Big Apple, and Times Union Center, in the capital, Albany: clubs and smaller spaces will be able to use the same solution starting April 2. Through a QR Code, gate attendants will be able to verify the holder's immunization or negativity to a test of the same.
In mid-March, the European Commission proposed the digital passport, called the digital green pass. With this document, citizens will be able to move freely within and outside the borders of Europe. It should be available free of charge from June in digital or paper format and will admit all commercially available vaccines. The green pass will also be used to certify that one has tested negative or has been cured of Covid-19 and has developed antibodies. Again, it will include a QR code to ensure the security and authenticity of the certificate. Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has proposed the establishment of a Travel Pass, or a health passport, managed through an app, which allows tracking of passengers who have recently had a pre-departure swab or who have undergone Covid-19 vaccination.
British Airways has therefore decided to begin a testing phase of the VeryFLY app, developed by the company Daon and already used by American Airlines and Iberia. The application allows tracking of passengers planning to take international trips. Ryanair has instead developed an in-app solution called "COVID-19 Travel Wallet", which is available to all passengers and will allow all required certificates to be saved.
