We all knew there would be some changes to daily life after the pandemic. Social distancing may stick around for another few years and an annual vaccination may be on the table, but who could have predicted a COVID passport? Here's what you should know.
The pandemic has pushed tech companies and nonprofits to create verifiable and easily accessible medical records to prove a person has taken the COVID-19 vaccine.
Now, people who have taken the COVID-19 vaccine can show a “digital health passport” to prove they are free of COVID-19 and have been vaccinated.
Although these digital health passports aren’t widely spread in the U.S., Medical Technologists expect these digital passports to follow in other countries’ footsteps and be a requirement to travel, attend events, and enter specific buildings.
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Los Angeles County has partnered with Healthvana to allow those who have been vaccinated to download an electronic version of their record to their Apple Wallet or Android.
Once downloaded on their mobile device, user can use the QR code to scan as they board airplanes or enter event venues.
Airlines such as JetBlue, United, Lufthansa, Swiss International Airlines and Virgin Atlantic have been testing an app called CommonPass with their passengers to ensure they are COVID-19 free before boarding their flight.
Both CommonPass and CommonHealth (a medical record app), have been able to
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connect to nearly 350 different healthcare systems in the U.S. allowing users to pull up their records digitally.
With the possibility of forged or doctored health records, these apps, along with VeriFLY and IATA Travel Pass, use biometric data to prove the identity of users to match with their corresponding health records. Users will take a selfie on the mobile app and then that photo will be matched to your passport photo.
To help with the verification process, the World Health Organization (WHO) is in the process of developing digital standards to further verify and secure vaccination records to reduce fraud.
If you are worried about the security and confidentiality of your health records, this may make you feel more comfortable.
Mobile app developers emphasize that users take control of their data.
No verification will be obtained without the authorization of the traveler.
However, if you do choose to use a digital health passport, these apps do not store your data.
These apps only ensure verification of your vaccination.
Health technology experts expect that digital passports or proof of vaccination will become a requirement once the COVID-19 vaccine becomes accessible to the majority of Americans.
