Vaccine passports regime and worsening global inequalities in vaccinations

*Some governments, business firms, and organisations are already considering making COVID-19 Vaccine shots mandatory for people who want to get on airplanes, cruise ships, or attend events such as concerts, as some political and business leaders suggest countries can help get life back to normal by rolling out vaccine passports for consumers

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

Ever since the vaccine rollout began late 2020, vaccine access inequity and vaccine nationalism are reported to have constituted obvious disparities in the much expected immunisation of several billions of humans against the disruptive Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic pose a threat to the global community.

ConsumerConnect reports that as the latest idea of vaccine passports or certificates evolves, especially in the developed economies, more the damaging Coronavirus spreads unchecked without appropriate vaccinations peoples in many lands with more opportunity the disease has to develop dangerous mutations in several communities, countries and regions of the world.

Some existing vaccines have already been shown to be less effective against new variants such as the one from South Africa.

Incidentally, the chance of a virus mutation entering a highly-vaccinated country and igniting another wave of COVID cannot be discounted according to agency report.

COVID-19 vaccination

Now, some people and organisations that aware of the evolution of vaccine passports worry that the document would create what has been termed “a vaccinated global elite”, while intensifying inequalities and creating “an underclass” that could be denied services and prevented from crossing borders from one country, region, or continent to another.

According to such concerned individuals and organisations, inequalities in various forms have already worsened throughout the global pandemic period.

What are vaccine passports and how would they work?     

With millions being vaccinated against COVID-19 every day since vaccine rollout and vaccination campaigns commenced, some political and business leaders are suggesting countries can help get life back to normal by rolling out a vaccine passport.

A vaccine passport has been described as “an easily accessible and verifiable certification that a person’s been inoculated” against COVID-19, agency report said.

In view of this, certain private companies are beginning to consider making vaccine shots ‘mandatory’ for people who want to get on airplanes, cruise ships, or attend events such as concerts around the world.

It was gathered that a handful of projects from some countries’ governments, private organisations, and international associations in this regard are currently underway.

ConsumerConnect investigation, however, revealed just as the idea of vaccine passports is fast gaining currency in some countries and regions of the world, certain organisations are also warning consumers that vaccine passports could pave the way for vaccine passport scams soon.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) says e-mails offering free downloads of an ‘official’ government vaccine passport app are scams.

Health passport COVID-19   Photo: Forbes

The Bureau acknowledged the concept of a “vaccine passport” which is a digital record showing you have been vaccinated against COVID-19, is currently a hot topic of discussion.

Some people think it is a good idea, while others do not, the organisation said.

According to BBB, scammers however, love the idea of vaccine passports because it gives them one more way to mislead, frighten, pressure, and cajole consumers into revealing sensitive personal information or purchasing worthless products.

The Bureau, therefore, warns that these scams are coming, adding, that e-mails or popups offering free downloads of an “official” US Government vaccine passport app should be disregarded as scams.

The US Federal Government has no plans to create a national vaccine passport. Anything presented as such is a scam, agency report noted.

The organisation also explained though that is not to say that there will not be vaccine passports offered by other entities, just as it said New York is the first state in the country to roll out an app that displays the user’s vaccination status, report stated.

Scientific and ethical questions about development of vaccine passports

What’s the idea behind vaccine passports?

At the moment, many countries and airlines require proof that international travellers aren’t infected with SARS-CoV-2, but regulations vary from place to place and so far there’s no systematic requirement that people be vaccinated, reports Bloomberg.

The idea of a vaccine passport would be to create an updated version of the so-called yellow card, more formally known as the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, a World Health Organisation-approved booklet documenting your past inoculations.

Given the prevalence, contagiousness and devastation of COVID-19, many are suggesting the need for a more modern, digital and secure record.

Ideally, it would provide proof of vaccination status and document recent virus test results, which would both reassure border agents and safeguard fellow travellers or event-goers.

The demand for such proof has led to falsified and counterfeit paper versions of vaccine certificates, according to WHO spokeswoman Margaret Harris.

Who is developing vaccine passports?

There are a number of private firms, organisations and governments backing or attempting to create a workable vaccine passport.

With financial support from Innovate UK, technology companies Mvine and iProov have begun live-testing a COVID-19 immunity and vaccination passport designed to be compatible with the UK’s tiered approach to managing the health crisis, under which different parts of the country are under varying levels of restrictions, agency report said.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Commons Project, alongside the Rockefeller Foundation, say they have convened more than 350 public and private sector leaders from 52 countries to create a technology platform called CommonPass that aims to provide people with a “secure and verifiable way to document their health status as they travel and cross borders.”

Similarly, the Israeli Government offers a “green passport” for those who have been vaccinated, while the International Air Transport Association (IATA) is working on a travel pass that would enable air passengers to comply with health-screening measures required at their destinations across the globe.

Who’s considering requiring proof of vaccination?

A handful of companies have begun mandating, or hinting at what they will eventually require ─proof of vaccination, foreshadowing what could become a more common practice.

UK-based Saga Cruises, part of an industry that was a prominent early victim of the pandemic, is already requiring that passengers present proof they have been fully vaccinated before sailing.

It was learnt Alan Joyce, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Australian airline Qantas Airways Limited, has said his aviation company plans to require international travellers entering or leaving Australia to present proof of vaccination before boarding.

Joyce said he expects other carriers to do the same. Ticketmaster, which sells tickets to live events, has said it is exploring options for event organisers who may want to require attendees to present proof of inoculation; for instance, ticket-holders might be able to link their vaccine record to their digital ticket.

Will countries require proof of vaccination for entry?

Report indicates although WHO, in its interim position paper on vaccine passports, apparently, does not support the idea, yet it is possible countries demand it, especially as more people get vaccinated around the world.

Yet, the agency also recommends against imposing travel restrictions in response to pandemics, and that advice has been widely ignored as countries slapped COVID-related flight bans on other countries.

It was gathered under the International Health Regulations, which are legally binding on the 196 states that are party to it, only one vaccine ─ against yellow fever ─ is endorsed as a requirement for entry into countries.

In early February, the WHO recommended against adding Covid vaccines for two reasons.

First, it’s not clear such requirements would stop the cross-border spread of SARS-CoV-2 since it’s not known yet how well the shots prevent people from transmitting the virus, even if they aren’t sickened by it.

And second, COVID-19 vaccines are in limited supply. In 2020, the global health agency discouraged the introduction of “immunity passports”, based on the presence of antibodies, since there was no evidence people with antibodies could not be re-infected.

What are the implications of the limited vaccine supply?

It means that entry requirements would bar the majority of people in the world, especially in the developing economies and emerging markets with limited access to COVID vaccines so far.

Nevertheless, countries are entitled under the International Health Regulations to take public health measures that go beyond WHO guidance, but only if they are non-discriminatory.

The Coronavirus is said to have disproportionately affected people of colour in developed countries, and those in the developing world who work without formal jobs or contracts.

In the same vein, some academics also have argued that vaccine passports risk exacerbating discrimination based on race, nationality or access to smartphones, since many of the proposed applications require one, and could raise privacy concerns in the process.

Scholars point out that universal, free access to vaccines could mitigate some of these concerns. But at the moment, vaccine access still varies widely, they argued.

It was also learnt the 27-nation European Union (EU) is considering possible vaccination certificates as member countries struggle to accelerate inoculations and revive cross-border travel.

Agency warns consumers to be cautious about vaccine passport apps

The Bureau has urged consumers to be careful about downloading these programmes, and to research any offering to ensure they are dealing with a legitimate enterprise.

The firms developing the vaccine passport apps hope the technology will allow industries – such as travel and events – to return to normal while minimising the spread of COVID-19, according to report.

Sharon Pinkerton, Senior Vice President of Policy at airline trade group, Airlines for America, said: “It’s really just digitising a little piece of paper that has your vaccine information on it.”

Pinkerton stated the people who have been vaccinated have a card proving that fact that they have done so.

Taking a picture of the card and leaving it on your smartphone might be all the proof you need of your vaccination status, said she.

Meanwhile, BBB in an advisory has suggested that air travellers, who are booked on an airline flight or attending an event, should check with the aviation company directly about whether proof of vaccination is needed or otherwise.

The organisation stated: “As with all things related to COVID-19, policies are frequently changing.

“Be sure to check with your airline, sports team, event venue, etc. beforehand to get the latest details.”

Likewise, if you receive an invitation to download a COVID-19 vaccine passport app, consumers are advised to make sure it is legitimate before entering any personal information.

Scammers are very creative, so be sceptical of apps that ask for your Medicare ID number, Social Security number, health plan information, or banking information, BBB said.

It as well noted that consumers should not post their vaccine cards on social media. The card has your full name and date of birth, two pieces of information scammers can use to begin stealing your identity, it warned.

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