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Covid passports: What are different countries planning? Covid passports: What are different countries planning?
(about 3 hours later)
Will vaccine certificates enable summer travel?Will vaccine certificates enable summer travel?
At a virtual summit on Thursday, EU leaders will look at how digital certificates - called the Green Digital Certificate - might work to enable travel across Europe in time for summer. The need to get a Covid vaccine certificate before you travel across Europe this summer is closer to becoming reality.
The aim is to enable anyone who has been vaccinated against Covid-19, or who has tested negative, or recently recovered from the virus to travel within the EU. EU leaders are discussing the introduction of a "Digital Green Certificate" in time for Europe's summer, but some countries, inside and outside the EU, have already announced plans for so-called "vaccine passports".
But some individual countries, such as Denmark and Estonia, have already outlined plans for so-called vaccine certificates. And outside of the EU, Israel has a working system in place. Will I need a vaccine passport to travel to the EU?
The aim of the EU pass is to get travel moving across borders by Europe's summer, "without discrimination", but getting it all organised in a short space of time will be a significant challenge.
The certificate, either digital or on paper, will enable anyone vaccinated against Covid, or who has tested negative, or recently recovered from the virus, to travel across all 27 member states. The EU also wants to include non-EU countries including Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.
Key to the digital certificate is a QR code - a machine-readable graphic code made up of black and white squares - that contains personal data and the EU's Commission says it will be safe and secure. It is working with the World Health Organization to ensure the certificate is recognised beyond Europe.
EU plans rollout of Covid travel form by summerEU plans rollout of Covid travel form by summer
British Airways plans app-based travel passBritish Airways plans app-based travel pass
Europe in vaccine race to save summerEurope in vaccine race to save summer
It's already working in Israel - how so? How will Denmark's vaccine passport work?
Denmark plans to use its "Coronapas" vaccine passport domestically from Easter - but it could also be used later as a tool for international travel.
Like a number of European countries, Denmark already has a secure digital ID system called NemID, and the Coronapas will be linked to that. NemID gives Danes access to various online platforms, including a digital health listing of an individual's health records and test results.
The pass will play a key role in easing Danish Covid restrictions - most of which are expected to end by 21 May, once all the high-risk groups and over 50s are fully vaccinated.
Danes will have to show proof of vaccination, proof of earlier infection or a recent negative test to access services such as hairdressers, restaurants and cinemas.
Sweden has been considering similar plans.
Israel already has a vaccine passport system - how does that work?
User shows Israel's green pass app on their smartphoneUser shows Israel's green pass app on their smartphone
One country where a working passport or certificate system is already up and running is Israel. Israel has the highest vaccination rate in the world. More than half the population have already received two vaccine doses. Last month it was able to begin easing a nationwide lockdown.
Israel has the highest vaccination rate in the world, with more than half the population having already received two doses, and last month it was able to begin easing a nationwide lockdown. A "Green Pass" is available to anyone who has been fully vaccinated or has recovered from Covid-19. They have to show it to access facilities such as hotels, gyms or theatres.
A "Green Pass" is available to anyone who has been fully vaccinated or has recovered from Covid-19. It is available as a paper certificate or in an app, which links users to their personal health ministry data.
To access some of the country's facilities - like hotels, gyms or theatres - people have to show their pass. It is available as a paper certificate or in an app, which links users to their health ministry data. The app is opening up opportunities for international travel. Israel has struck deals with Greece and Cyprus so Israeli citizens with passes can travel to those two countries.
The app opens the possibility of being used for international travel, and Israel has struck deals with Greece and Cyprus to allow its citizens with vaccination passports to travel to those two countries. What are the challenges?
Within weeks of the WHO confirming that the coronavirus was a global pandemic, dozens of companies were rushing to announce plans to offer digital health certificates or later, vaccine passports. But many seemed ignorant of the huge regulatory, ethical and technical challenges involved. Within weeks of the WHO confirming that the coronavirus was a global pandemic, dozens of companies were rushing to announce plans to offer digital health certificates or, later, vaccine passports. But many seemed ignorant of the huge regulatory, ethical and technical challenges involved.
For any such certificate or passport to work, it is going to need two things - access to a country's official records of vaccinations and a secure method of identifying an individual and linking them to their health record. And if such a digital certificate is to be accepted by the border force of another country, it will probably have to adhere to common standards set by organisations such as the WHO or the EU.For any such certificate or passport to work, it is going to need two things - access to a country's official records of vaccinations and a secure method of identifying an individual and linking them to their health record. And if such a digital certificate is to be accepted by the border force of another country, it will probably have to adhere to common standards set by organisations such as the WHO or the EU.
There are also all sorts of privacy and human rights issues - how confident will users be that their extremely sensitive health data will be stored securely and not put to other uses by an app developer or their government? And will the very existence of vaccine passports mean those who choose not to have one will have their freedom curtailed?There are also all sorts of privacy and human rights issues - how confident will users be that their extremely sensitive health data will be stored securely and not put to other uses by an app developer or their government? And will the very existence of vaccine passports mean those who choose not to have one will have their freedom curtailed?
This may be a particularly hard sell in the UK where, unlike in many countries, there's long been opposition to the idea of carrying a national identity card.This may be a particularly hard sell in the UK where, unlike in many countries, there's long been opposition to the idea of carrying a national identity card.
What is Denmark doing? How will Estonia's QR code passes work?
Denmark has outlined its plans for how to use the corona pass domestically - known as Coronapas - as a key part of easing restrictions from Easter. It could also be used as a tool for international travel. Estonia, one of the world's most advanced digital societies, is planning to start issuing digital certificates in the form of a QR code, showing proof of vaccination by the end of April.
Most restrictions are expected to be dropped in full by 21 May, once all the high-risk groups and over 50s are fully vaccinated. Individuals will be able to download their own unique code to prove they have been vaccinated and showing how many doses they have received. They can either print it off or store it on a smartphone.
Under the plans, the public will have to show proof of vaccination, proof of earlier infection, or a recent negative test to access services such as hairdressers, restaurants and cinemas, as restrictions ease over the next few weeks. "Launching our national solution early gives us the possibility to address potential obstacles in the use of the certificate," said Kalle Killar from Estonia's social affairs ministry. Having the system in place also meant Estonia was ready to join the EU's certificate from day one, he added.
Danes already have a secure digital pass called NemID to access a number of online platforms, including a digital health one, which lists an individual's health records and test results. From the end of March, this will be used as a simple corona pass. Is the UK planning to introduce vaccine passports?
Sweden is reported to be considering similar plans. Although foreign holidays are not currently allowed, the role vaccine passports could play in travel is being discussed.
What is the plan in Estonia? "If another country says you can't come in unless you have the jab, then we want Brits to be able to demonstrate that," Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said.
Estonia - one of the world's most advanced digital societies - is planning to start issuing digital vaccination certificates only in April to begin with. Domestically, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told MPs that people visiting pubs and other venues could be asked to provide a vaccine certificate before entering.
Kalle Killar, undersecretary for e-health and innovation at the social affairs ministry, said the digital certificates would help people both for travelling and in everyday life. He told MPs he was "thinking very deeply" about the matter, and said that it "may be down to individual publicans".
It will take the form of a QR code which will be sent from a health portal which can be printed or displayed on a smartphone, and will show vaccination data.
"Launching our national solution early gives us the possibility to address potential obstacles in the use of the certificate. In addition, with our solution already working, we are ready to join with the EU green certificate from day one, once the agreement is in place," Mr Killar said on Thursday.
What is the UK planning to do?
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told MPs pub goers could be asked to provide a vaccine certificate, saying it "may be up to individual publicans".
A review is looking into whether people should have to prove they have been vaccinated, as lockdown measures ease.
A government source told the BBC that the option of allowing people to show a negative test was also being looked at.
Half of all adults in the UK have now received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, with nearly 27 million vaccinated.
Will I need a vaccine passport to go to the pub?
The PM says drinkers will not need to prove they have had a vaccine when pubs in England open for outside trade from 12 AprilThe PM says drinkers will not need to prove they have had a vaccine when pubs in England open for outside trade from 12 April
A government source has told the BBC the option of allowing people to show a negative test is also being looked at.