A coalition of healthcare organizations and technology companies, including Microsoft and Oracle, is working on a project that checks who received the coronavirus vaccination and prevents others from making false claims that they have.
Called the Vaccination Credential Initiative (VCI), the venture aims to help people obtain encrypted digital copies of their immunization records stored in a digital wallet.
VCI says it is working to make credentials using the SMART Health Cards specification, which is designed to allow people to store immunizations or laboratory results in a digital wallet and can come in the form of a QR code to scan for verification.
However, digital passports and paper credentials are raising concerns among privacy groups who believe ‘until everyone has access to an effective vaccine, any system that requires a passport for entry or service will be unfair’, as stated by Privacy International.
“The vaccine is a public health exercise and should not be a new discriminator,” the group shared on its website.
The group agrees that such records are ‘probably necessary’, but fears that they may ‘open a can of worms’.
‘How reliable is this documentation to be reviewed by other providers? And who else will want access? That’s when things get more complicated. And that is where ambitions lie, ”says Privacy International.
The Vaccination Credential Initiative (VCI) aims to help people obtain encrypted digital copies of their immunization records stored in a digital wallet. The initiative is built from The Commons Project Foundation’s CommonPass (photo)
VCI does not seem to be seeing its project as fair, but as a way of helping society to return to pre-pandemic life and do it safely.
The initiative is built on the basis of The Commons Project Foundation, which is working on its Common Pass that allows travelers to present the results of their vaccination record or coronavirus test when flying and crossing borders to other countries.
Some airlines, including United Airlines and JetBlue, are testing CommonPass.
Paul Meyer, chief executive of The Commons Project, said: ‘The aim of the Vaccination Credential Initiative is to empower individuals with digital access to their vaccination records so that they can use tools like CommonPass to safely return to travel, work, school and life, while protecting the privacy of your data. ‘
However, digital passports and paper credentials are raising concerns among privacy groups that believe ‘until everyone has access to an effective vaccine, any system that requires a passport for entry or service will be unfair.
‘Open standards and interoperability are at the heart of VCI’s efforts and we hope to support the World Health Organization and other global stakeholders in implementing and scaling open global standards for health data interoperability.’
VCI includes big names in technology, such as Microsoft, Salesforce and Oracle, as well as the Mayo Clinic, a nonprofit healthcare institution in the United States.
Bill Patterson, executive vice president and general manager of the enterprise software company Salesforce, said his company wants to help organizations customize all aspects of the vaccination management lifecycle and integrate closely with other members’ offerings of the coalition, which will help us all get back. for public life. ‘
Digital vaccination passports provide that airlines, stadiums, workplaces and other establishments may soon require proof of a jab before allowing entry
‘With a single platform to help deliver safe and continuous operations and deepen the trust of customers and employees, this coalition will be crucial to support public health and well-being.
The group predicts that digital passports are vital for air travel and wants to make verifying a vaccine ‘as easy as an online bank’.
However, people without smartphones would receive paper printed with QR codes containing the credentials.
In the United States, where Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been authorized for emergency use, vaccinated individuals receive a vaccination or printing card.