A vaccine passport is documented proof that someone has received immunization against a specific disease. With the creation of a Covid-19 vaccine, vaccine passports are now being discussed on a local, national, and international level. Vaccine passports have been debated in the United States since the 19th century, when proof of immunization against smallpox (in the form of a scar on the left arm) was required to travel, attend schools, and work certain jobs. Additionally, forms of vaccine passports already exist in the United States, such as students being required to have proof of vaccinations to attend school. According to the Biden Administration, a national vaccine database for Covid-19 is unlikely in the near future. However, different states have differing policies on the issue.
Vaccine Passports on State, Local, and National Levels
New York has established the Excelsior Pass which can be used to track vaccination status and whether someone has tested negative for Covid-19. The Excelsior Pass can be used to gain entry to various businesses and event venues such as theaters, sports stadiums, and wedding receptions It can be used digitally on one’s phone or as a printed paper which documents the individual’s vaccination status. While New York is the first state to implement this technology, other states such as Florida and Arkansas have passed laws which prohibit businesses from requiring proof of vaccination. The EU and Israel have implemented vaccine passports. The EU’s Digital Green Certificate provides documentation of either Covid-19 vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test and allows for members to freely travel throughout the EU. Similarly, Israel’s Green Pass enables those who are vaccinated to enter locations such as hotels and theaters.
Arguments Against Vaccine Passports
One of the biggest concerns when it comes to vaccine passports is individual privacy. Some consider being forced to disclose health information an infringement of privacy. Additionally, the manner in which the data is stored and delivered could raise concerns because there are no standard federal privacy laws regarding the sharing of vaccination status. For example, if vaccine providers such as CVS and Walgreens are not held to the same standards as other medical providers when it comes to handling health information, it can create risks to individual privacy when those companies are delivering individuals’ health information to others. To resolve this,health care entities are working together to develop standards to deliver information while also maintaining individual privacy. New technology could be used to deliver the information without storing individual data, such as CommonPass which communicates with airlines information about vaccinations amongst the travelers without providing private patient data.
Arguments For Vaccine Passports
While some feel uncomfortable with information sharing, others believe the benefits to overall public health outweigh any privacy or liberty drawbacks. In 1905, the Jacobson v. Massachusetts Supreme Court case determined that it was within the rights of the states to mandate vaccination in order to protect public health. At the time, Massachusetts allowed some cities to require laws mandating vaccination against smallpox; however, Jacobson refused to get vaccinated and was fined. The matter was brought to the Supreme Court where it was determined that the states were within their rights to allow vaccination mandates. This is an important component to the Covid-19 vaccine passport discussion since it addresses the question of public health vs personal privacy. Implementing vaccine passports would help to reduce the spread of the disease by creating incentives for individuals to get vaccinated as well as ensure that those who are not vaccinated don’t spread the virus as much.
Other Issues
Another important aspect is equity of vaccine distribution. Lower income communities have less access to the vaccine and receive the vaccination at lower rates. Requiring vaccine passports could further harm those already disenfranchised communities by limiting opportunities that otherwise would have been open. Since the distribution of the vaccinations are not equitable, the impacts of the passports could also fall along similar lines. On an international level, higher income countries are more likely to have implemented vaccine requirements to travel, which further restricts the ability of those from lower income countries to access areas of the world.
Potential Logistics
After receiving the vaccination, there are several different strategies for potential vaccine passport implementation. It is possible for people to either carry the information on a card or store their vaccination records on a digital device such as their phone. Databases, either run by governments or private entities, such as those delivering the vaccines, could also be established to disseminate vaccination information.