Digital health passes: what are the options?
The successful rollout of vaccines - both here in the UK and in many other parts of the world - means the opening up of travel around the world. But how do you prove you've had your full dose of vaccine? And how are airlines helping?
We have taken a quick look at some of the main 'vaccine passports' available and in testing now.
The IATA Travel Pass
The International Air Transport Association - IATA - has developed a 'secure and user friendly solution' in the form of a mobile phone app, the IATA Travel Pass.
The app contains information on travel restrictions and regulations across the world as well as the opportunity for the passenger to Covid-19 test status and vaccine proof. It is being used by Etihad Airways, Emirates and Qatar Airways and British Airways has announced a trial of the IATA Travel Pass on flights from London to Zurich and Geneva.
Sean Doyle, British Airways’ Chairman and CEO, said
We are committed to exploring ways to ensure that the customer journey is as frictionless as possible and sharing our learnings to help the travel industry take off again.
AOK Pass
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in collaboration with International SOS and the SGS Group has created a 'digitally authenticated, secure and portable copy of medical records', AOK Pass.
To use the pass, the passenger enters their information into the app, which is then 'secured using a hashing algorithm so that it can’t be read by anyone else'. A unique code is then generated and shown to you and your medical practitioner for them to attest to the validity of your information. This data is then presented as a QR code on the app, which the passenger can present to confirm their Covid-19 status.
How to set up a profile on AOK Pass
CommonPass
CommonPass is an initiative of the World Economic Forum.
Passengers are able to pull in their Covid-19 test results from a network of labs around the world, including in the UK, United States, Japan, Germany and Hong Kong and enter the details into the CommonPass mobile app via a QR Code or manually. Once you have the appropriate Conid-19 status for the country or region to which you are travelling, you can show a QR Code in the app, when required.
VerifFLY
VeriFLY is an app and service created by software developers Daon.
VeriFLY streamlines the verification process of Covid-19 tests and other health documentation. Passengers take a selfie to verify their account and can then enter flight details. The app presents the appropriate forms for entry into the passengers' destination countries and enables the upload of negative Covid-19 test results.
British Airways, American and Iberia are some of the initial carriers adopting VeriFLY. Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways said,
We know that digital travel passes are part of the solution and they will also play a key role in offering those travelling the reassurance they need before they arrive at the airport.
EU Digital COVID Certificate
The EU Digital COVID Certificate facilitates safe, free movement of citizens in the EU during the Covid-19 pandemic. The certificate was scheduled to be introduced in all EU Member States from 1 July 2021. However, seven countries - Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Greece and Poland - commenced its use one month prior, on 1 June.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate is available either as a mobile app or in hard copy, paper format, produced in English and the country's national language and is valid in all EU countries.
NHS App
Covid-19 vaccination status is available to people who live in England and are registered with a GP. You can show your Covid-19 vaccination status as proof of your status when travelling abroad.
You can access your Covid-19 vaccination status through the free NHS App. You can access the app through mobile devices. Proof of your Covid-19 vaccination status is shown within the NHS App.
Note that the NHS App is not the same as the NHS COVID-19 app.
Other health passports
Other health passports in use include
Health Pass by Clear - using the CLEAR app, passengers can enrol and complete a Health Pass and confirm vaccination status.
IBM Digital Health Pass - IBM Watson Health has produced the Digital Health Pass, a 'digital wallet' for mobile phones where passengers can 'manage' their Covid-19 test results or vaccine status.
The Mvine-iProov is in testing, providing a 'Covid-19 immunity and vaccination passport'.
Scan2Fly is 'an AI-based feature', developed by Air Asia in partnership with analytics company GrayMatter. Scan2Fly
Trust Assure - The Trust Assure Solution Suite is a 'multi stakeholder engagement platform that Consumers, Laboratories, Healthcare Providers, Health Plans, and Public Health Authorities can access and communicate vital health information for real-time risk assessment to manage the COVID-19 pandemic'.
Vaccine Guard - The tech company Guardtime built Vaccine Guard as part of a six-month collaboration with the Estonian government and WHO.
Vaccination Credential Initiative - VCI is coalition of health and technology partners including Microsoft, Oracle and The Commons Project, Empowering individuals to gain access to their verifiable clinical information'.
Sources: The Focus Travel Partnership; various suppliers