How Long Does It Take To Get Vaccinated

What Can We Learn From Vaccine Passports Around the World?

A traveler tests the CommonPass digital health passport system at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Photo Courtesy: Yoshikazu Tsuno/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

As the pace of COVID-19 vaccination rates around the world accelerates , hopes are growing high that the world will soon be able to get back to some semblance of business as usual. And one big component of this back-to-new-normal process is regaining the ability to travel more freely. In an effort to help ease travel restrictions for people who are fully vaccinated, many countries have started implementing vaccine passports — " a paper or digital document proving inoculation against COVID-19."

But as the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant has COVID-19 cases on the rise again, travel seems less practical and more unsafe. U.S. residents are beginning to wonder if government officials will take a cue from countries that have implemented these passport systems. Additionally, many citizens are hoping the U.S. government will take the steps to do so; according to CNBC, a June 2021 survey from travel website Upgraded Points found that nearly 82% of U.S.-based respondents support the idea of vaccine passports.

Currently, the U.S. lacks a standardized vaccine passport system and has largely "left it to airlines and other businesses to figure out" a process that compiles and validates travelers' proof of vaccination. But other countries are well on their way to implementing successful passport systems — and the U.S. may be able to learn from their examples.

What Are Vaccine Passports?

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The travel industry was one that was hit the hardest during the initial months of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020; the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development estimates that the pandemic may be responsible for a nearly $4 trillion loss in the international tourism economy. So, it wasn't surprising that many countries around the world were eager to reopen as soon as the COVID-19 vaccine became widely available.

As a result, several countries have already helped regulate and ease travel restrictions by introducing vaccine passports. Many vaccine passports take the form of a digital smartphone app that displays a user's proof of vaccination. These passports are now commonly required in some countries in order to participate in airline travel and other activities where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is higher.

While the mere introduction of the vaccine may have seemed like a light at the end of the tunnel, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that only around 51% of Americans are fully vaccinated as of mid-August. As the Delta variant is causing case numbers to climb, however, it doesn't hurt to look at how other countries are utilizing tools like vaccine passports to help lower infection rates.

The UK's NHS COVID Pass Is Continually Evolving

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While the UK recently joined much of the world in easing COVID-19 restrictions, Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced that precautions are due to tighten back up slightly. Johnson revealed changes during a press conference as he announced the UK's goal "to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs and other venues where large crowds gather" by the end of September.

The NHS Covid Pass app will allow citizens to show proof of full vaccination and excuse those reentering the UK from most amber-list countries from quarantine. It can display both vaccination status and results of recent COVID-19 tests. The UK also has plans to introduce a form of digital pass that citizens can display for international travel purposes.

The EU's Digital COVID Passport Facilitates Freer Movement Among Member Nations

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The European Union (EU) introduced a digital COVID passport in July of 2021 that's valid in all EU member countries. The certificate can also be used in several non-EU countries, such as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Citizens can either obtain physical copies of documents displaying the results of their vaccination status or download digital copies of their passports at no cost. The EU passport is available to those who have been fully vaccinated, tested negative or recovered from COVID-19 and exempts the holder from free movement restrictions throughout the EU. Some individual EU member countries have introduced their own passports as well.

France's Health Pass Applies to a Wide Age Range

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France recently passed a law that requires citizens to display a "health pass" to enter restaurants, planes, trains and large public venues. Additionally, the law specifies that all healthcare workers must get vaccinated by September 15 of 2021 in order to avoid suspension. While the law only applies to adults at the moment, by September 30, everyone aged 12 and older will be expected to abide by the new guidelines.

To obtain a health pass, citizens must show proof of full vaccination, a recent negative test or recent recovery from COVID-19. Both digital and paper formats of the pass are accepted, and the French government plans to introduce legislation to "outline how to handle vaccination documents from other countries" — although a date for this decree hasn't been revealed as of yet.

Israel's "Green Pass" System May Boost Vaccination Rates

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Israel first enacted a "green pass" system in February of 2021. The system provided those who had recently been vaccinated or recovered from the virus with a digital certificate that allowed them to take part in various events. The pass reportedly helped increase vaccination rates and spur a decline in cases, especially among young people. It was so successful in doing so that the country was able to retire the green pass in June of 2021.

Due to the recent surge in new Delta variant cases, however, Israeli officials reinstated the green pass in late July. It's once again required for entry to restaurants, gyms, sporting events, houses of worship and other high-risk venues.

China's QR Code Works for Global Travelers

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China was among the first countries to suggest the use of a QR code system for international travel back in late 2020. Using a combination of data and information submitted by each user, China's QR passport was ultimately set up to categorize each individual's risk level using a color-coded ranking system. A green QR code excused a user from restrictions, a yellow code indicated that they may be asked to quarantine for seven days and a red code indicated the need for up to two weeks of self-isolation.

In March, China launched a new digital certificate setup that's now required for gaining entry to public places within the country. The certificate shows a user's vaccination status and the results of any recent COVID-19 testing. The QR program is available to both Chinese citizens and foreigners traveling within China.

The Question of Vaccine Proof in the United States Is Difficult to Answer

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The question of whether vaccine passports will come into play in the United States is one that's quickly become politically charged. If vaccine passports are made mandatory within certain parts of the United States, it potentially won't be the result of afederal government decree.

The White House has already delegated responsibility for the issue to individual states and the private sector for a number of reasons. The first is likely the already highly politicized stance many Americans have taken over the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as concerns over privacy at the federal level. Additionally, the U.S. government doesn't currently maintain a national immunization record database that could serve as the source for a federally issued passport.

Evidence of the continued polarization over mandates related to the virus are already visible through the reactions of several state leaders to the idea of a vaccine passport system. As of July 30, 2021, 20 states, all led by Republican governors, have prohibited the requirement of vaccination proof of any kind. Governers Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott, of Florida and Texas, respectively, have issued executive orders prohibiting the use of vaccine passports for access to private businesses. Other states, all with Democratic governors, have begun developing digital vaccination passports that will excuse fully vaccinated citizens from COVID-19 restrictions. Whether (and how) vaccine passports could prove to be effective in the United States remains to be seen — but they may eventually become necessary for those looking to participate in international travel after getting vaccinated.