A coalition of healthcare organizations and technology companies, including Microsoft and Oracle, is working on a project that verifies who received the coronavirus vaccine and to prevent others from making false claims.
VCI (Vaccination Credential Initiative), as the company is called, aims to help people get encrypted digital copies of their vaccination records into a digital wallet.
VCI says they are making the references using the SMART Health Cards specification, which is designed to enable people to store immunization or lab results in a digital wallet, and in the form of a QR code may come to verify.
However, digital passports and paperwork are a concern among privacy groups who believe ‘until everyone has access to an effective vaccine, any system that requires a passport for access or service will be unfair’, as stated by Privacy International.
“The vaccine is a public health exercise and may not be a new discriminator,” the group shared on its website.
The group agrees that such records are ‘probably necessary’, but is concerned that they could ‘open up a can of worms’.
‘To what extent must this documentation be trusted to be reviewed by other suppliers? And who else wants access? This is where things get more complicated. And that’s where ambitions lie, ‘says Privacy International.
Vaccination Credential Initiative (VCI) aims to help people get encrypted digital copies of their vaccination records in a digital wallet. The initiative builds on The Commons Project Foundation’s CommonPass (photo)
It seems that VCI does not view its project as fair, but as a way to help society return to pre-pandemic life and do so safely.
The initiative builds on The Commons Project Foundation, which is working on its Common Pass that allows travelers to present the results of vaccination or coronavirus test results when flying to and from other countries.
Some airlines, including United Airlines and JetBlue, are currently testing CommonPass.
Paul Meyer, CEO of The Commons Project, said: ‘The aim of the vaccination 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 live, while protecting their privacy from data. ‘
However, digital passports and paper certificates are of concern to privacy groups who believe that ‘until everyone has access to an effective vaccine, any system that requires a passport for access or service will be unfair.
“Open standards and interoperability are at the heart of VCI’s efforts and we look forward to supporting the World Health Organization and other global stakeholders in the implementation and scope of the open standards for interoperability in health data.”
VCI includes big names in technologies such as Microsoft, Salesforce and Oracle, as well as US healthcare nonprofit Mayo Clinic.
Bill Patterson, executive vice president and general manager of the enterprise software company Salesforce, said his business wants to help organizations adapt to all aspects of the vaccine management life cycle and integrate closely with the offerings of other coalition members, which we everyone will help to come back. to public life. ‘
The digital vaccination passports expect airlines, stadiums, workplaces and other institutions to soon need proof of a sample before granting access
“With a single platform to deliver safe and ongoing operations and deepen trust among customers and employees, this coalition is crucial to supporting public health and well-being.”
The group foresees that digital passports are crucial for air travel and wants to make the verification of a vaccine ‘as easy as online banking’.
However, individuals without smartphones receive paper printed with QR codes and containing the referents.
In the United States, where vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have been authorized for emergency use, vaccinated individuals receive a vaccination card or printout.