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Europe, but not only, has launched the vaccination passport, a document that will allow travelers immunized against Covid-19 travel more freely (ie without tampons or quarantines) within and outside European borders. There are still many knots to solve, however, this certificate is already a reality and it is necessary for everyone to understand it. how could it work.
Vaccination passport: where are we?
It will be called, as he tweeted. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, “Digital Green Pass” and will aim to provide proof that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19; Coronavirus test results for those who have not yet been able to get a vaccine; information on those who have recovered from Covid-19 and consequently the possibility for immunized European citizens to move safely within the EU and across borders (here non-EU countries that are adopting the vaccine passport).
Not only that, there are also several private sectors that are launching vaccination passports. Just think of the IATA Travel Pass, developed by International Air Transport Association for travelers. But also the CommonPass created by The Commons Project Foundation, a nonprofit organization building digital data platforms for the public good that Jet Blue, Lufthansa and United will use in the coming weeks.
As we also explain at SiViaggia, the idea is not without controversy. In particular, they are present among human rights activists, data protection advocates and countries with limited access to vaccines. However, vaccine passports, when properly implemented, deliver one of the fastest and safest ways to control coronavirus, while supporting economies devastated by Covid-19-induced restrictions.
In fact, the tourism industry is the most eager to put them into practice. Just think of Sardinia itself, which from March 8 will welcome in its fabulous territory only visitors with a vaccination carried out, or those who will undergo a negative swab.
On the other hand, airlines like Qantas are already asking evidence of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 for international flights, as do some cruise lines. Spain and Greece, whose tourism-dependent economies are in dire need of a strong summer travel season, are considering opening travel corridors with the UK, while the Hellenic country has already opened one with Israel and, respectively, to citizens who can. prove your vaccination. condition.
How the vaccine passport works
So far what we know about how vaccination passports work is the following: in most cases they will be made up of an app that users will be able to show to officials to check their health.
The CommonPass app, for example, will notify users about the entry rules of a particular country like the need to have a vaccine or to get a negative Covid-19 test. In short, it will help to verify that travelers have met the entry (and return) requirements, by connecting with the clinic, health authority or pharmacy that provided the service, or by asking the consumer to download the test results or information. about vaccination on your phone.
The data itself will not be stored on the user’s phone (also for privacy protection). In fact, the application will generate a QR code that can be scanned like a digital boarding pass, confirming that the customer has met the requirements. Travelers without smartphones, on the other hand, will be able to print i confirmation codes.
Why the old “yellow card” is not good
The choice falls on this type of technology because, although some countries, such as those in Africa and Asia, have long asked visitors for proof of vaccination against yellow fever and other diseases, the truth is that the “yellow card” used to verify These requirements are easy to counterfeit and difficult to replace (getting an additional vaccine is often easier than getting a new card, even if it is not medically recommended).
This means that having these types of Covid-19 vaccination “cards” would be particularly complicated. Indeed, with high demand and, at the same time, limited vaccine stocks, the potential for fraud is high. The same goes for the possibility of confusion: there are more vaccines currently in use globally, with others in the pipeline. And people who have already had the virus may, in the future, need different vaccination requirements.
Managing all of this, therefore, could pose a huge challenge for immigration officials, airline check-in counters, and other professionals.
In addition, governments want travel and trade to resume as soon as possible, but with the primary need to protect the health and safety of their populations. In other words, if everyone presented “pieces of paper” in different languages in some test that, presumably, was carried out on the other side of the planet, it would be really difficult to verify all the factors at play.
Have, therefore, a health pass universally recognized would mean having the certainty that the person who wants to enter a certain territory is the same human being who actually received that vaccine, what type of inoculation and when. In addition, there would also be information on the laboratories in which this test was carried out, in order to verify its effectiveness and correct operation.
What are the rights of travelers
However, having such certification will not mean having a full green light and return to pre-pandemic life. In fact, social distancing measures will have to be maintained. After all, not everyone will be able or willing to get the vaccine. In addition, until vaccines are universally available, it will also be necessary to wear protective masks and continue to wash your hands.
The vaccination passport, therefore, will not immediately lead to normality. In fact, at present it is only a small step towards a economic recovery principle. Just think that there are other sectors besides travel that could benefit from this documentation: universities could open with confidence knowing that their students are vaccinated, employers could rehire, cinemas and theaters … the concert could return to open its doors.
In conclusion, the application of the vaccination passport is really upon us. A system that will allow tourism to begin to be reborn without, however, making the vaccine mandatory. Simply allowing vaccinated travelers to have more freedoms, like not having to undergo swabs and quarantines. All this guaranteeing the possibility of traveling as well. to those who will not be immunized against Covid-19. Travelers who, for their part, to access the country of destination and return to their own country must submit to current entry regulations, including buffers and quarantines (with relative costs).
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