Um, yeah, no. It would be interesting to see someone do a poll on this with a party affiliation breakdown, though
If you want to travel next year, you may need a vaccine passport
Now that coronavirus vaccines are starting to roll out in the US and abroad, many people may be dreaming of the day when they can travel, shop and go to the movies again. But in order to do those activities, you may eventually need something in addition to the vaccine: a vaccine passport application.
Several companies and technology groups have begun developing smartphone apps or systems for individuals to upload details of their Covid-19 tests and vaccinations, creating digital credentials that could be shown in order to enter concert venues, stadiums, movie theaters, offices, or even countries.
The Common Trust Network, an initiative by Geneva-based nonprofit The Commons Project and the World Economic Forum, has partnered with several airlines including Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, as well as hundreds of health systems across the United States and the government of Aruba.
The CommonPass app created by the group allows users to upload medical data such as a Covid-19 test result or, eventually, a proof of vaccination by a hospital or medical professional, generating a health certificate or pass in the form of a QR code that can be shown to authorities without revealing sensitive information. For travel, the app lists health pass requirements at the points of departure and arrival based on your itinerary.
“You can be tested every time you cross a border. You cannot be vaccinated every time you cross a border,” Thomas Crampton, chief marketing and communications officer for The Commons Project, told CNN Business. He stressed the need for a simple and easily transferable set of credentials, or a “digital yellow card,” referring to the paper document generally issued as proof of vaccination.
Large tech firms are also getting in on the act. IBM (IBM) developed its own app, called Digital Health Pass, which allows companies and venues to customize indicators they would require for entry including coronavirus tests, temperature checks and vaccination records. Credentials corresponding to those indicators are then stored in a mobile wallet.
Ostensibly, this makes sense on the surface, in that companies want to make sure that people using their services do not have COVID, that they have the antibodies, that they have had the vaccine. Right? Think about just a week ago, where a United Airlines passenger got on a flight after claiming he didn’t have COVID but actually had it and knew it and then died and exposed lots of passengers to COVID. So, this is mostly the private market looking to require “COVID passports”.
What happens when Government starts requiring people to do this? What happens when everyone must “show their papers” per not just private companies requiring this but government requiring that companies track citizens? On one hand, if you’re getting on an airplane or going in a building, you’d like to know you’re safe, right? On the other hand, if you’ve had the vaccine/have the antibodies, they can all piss off, right?
Perhaps an easily identifiable badge?