The use of digital COVID-19 vaccine passports, or proof of vaccination, has stirred concerns over privacy and practicality of the use of the technology in both private and public settings.
Here are three challenges coronavirus vaccine passports face, according to a June 15 New York Times report.
1. The U.S. does not have a centralized federal vaccine database, which means anyone developing a digital vaccine certificate would have to get immunization data from individual states, which could be an issue in states that oppose health pass initiatives.
2. Some issues have been tied to the terminology of the passport. Since passports are issued by a government to certify personal data such as a person's legal name and birth date, some people fear if they are required to have one related to the coronavirus they will be giving over their sensitive health data that could be stolen or used for other purposes.
3. The World Health Organization does not yet back requiring vaccination passports for travel because of uncertainty over whether inoculation prevents transmission of the virus, as well as equity concerns. WHO is working with a number of agencies to create the standards and specifications of a possible globally recognized, digital vaccination certificate.