Travel and mobility of people has been hampered due to the Covid-19 pandemic. World over, governments are trying to find ways to develop a system that would help verify vaccination status and COVID-19 test results.
The so-called COVID-19 vaccine passports, they say, can help people travel far and wide again. Vaccine passports or vaccine certificates are documents that show you were vaccinated against COVID-19.
Governments are working on systems that would allow travelers to use mobile phone apps to prove they’ve been vaccinated, which could help them avoid onerous quarantine requirements at their destinations.
The European Union, China and Japan are all working on their own digital vaccination certificates for cross-border travel. Testing is under way for the EU’s digital certificate, which will also confirm COVID-19 test results or recovery from the virus and is set to go live by the end of June, allowing residents to reunite with friends and relatives living across 30 European countries.
The idea is that travelers will flash a QR code on their phones so it can be scanned at, say, an airport or train station, using an official verification app that checks with national databases, via an EU technical “gateway”.
Israel
The Green Pass in Israel allows you to enter many businesses, including swimming pools, gyms, theaters and wedding halls, as well as cultural events, such as concerts, sports games and religious gatherings. Having the pass may also mean that you may not have to quarantine for 10 to 14 days after international travel.
India
The Kerala government has announced it will issue Covid-19 vaccination certificates with passport numbers to people travelling abroad to countries where it is mandatory. The district medical officers have been authorised as the competent authority to issue these certificates.
Even for inter-state travel vaccination certificates may be required.
Aarogya Setu App will now display the users’ vaccination status with a blue shield for those, who have been fully vaccinated, the ministry of electronics and information technology has said. “This would make easy check of Vaccination Status possible for travel and access to various premises.”
- With inputs from various Sources