Why This Matters
“Digital vaccine credentials certify that a person has been vaccinated or tested for COVID-19. Such credentials can be a tool to mitigate COVID-19 transmission as countries seek to safely reopen social and economic activities, including travel. However, challenges related to data protection, interoperability, and equity may limit their use and potential public health benefits.”
“The Technology
What is it?
A digital vaccine credential can be used to confirm a person’s identity and whether the person has been vaccinated for COVID-19. Often referred to as vaccine passports, digital credentials can also include information on whether the person has tested negative for or recovered from COVID-19. Some countries and industries require proof of a negative COVID-19 test or vaccination to mitigate transmission of the disease, and view digital credentials as a tool to safely reopen societies and economies.
The concept of a health credential is not new. For example, a paper vaccine certificate known as the “yellow card” has long been recognized as an official record of immunizations for international travel and other purposes. It was first created in 1933 by a precursor to the World Health Organization (WHO)….”
“Challenges
Data protection. A lack of clear standards for defined uses of digital credentials, and for minimizing collection of personal information, can undermine the security and privacy of users’ health data. This could limit public acceptance of digital credentials, reducing their potential public health benefits.
Interoperability. Various digital platforms should be interoperable, or be able to communicate with one another and exchange usable data. Without harmonized technical standards, it would be challenging to achieve effective and secure data transfer among numerous digital platforms used by immunization registries, testing laboratories, industries, governments, and other parties. For example, in the U.S. there are more than 60 different immunization registries run by cities, states, and territories…”
Source: Science & Tech Spotlight: Digital Vaccine Credentials – June 3, 2021. GAO.
