Digital vaccination passports could be the future of travel

Hopefully governments, airlines and hotels get together and develop a standard approach.  Having to maintain different apps to do the same thing will be annoying.  

Standardisation is important.  For example, NSW has shown that a single contact tracing app for everyone increases compliance.  Victoria developed their app from the NSW one but didn't make it standard so there are different apps everywhere and compliance is poor.

I agree with you.

@reeves35,

I agree that standardisation is important - but it doesn't necessarily imply just one solution. 

Whilst the NSW Government has done an admirable job with their QR app, it is not devoid of problems as we all saw during the week when it went offline across the entire state for approximately 4 hours. Users then had to resort to manual sign-ins.

To achieve a level of global standarisation is not necessarily going to be easy. There are approximately 220+ individual countries, all of which are storing their populations data somewhat differently each within their own country's healthcare systems. Perhaps the WHO should be managing / overseeing / directing the efforts here, but they seem not to be.

In their absence, IATA has developed what it HOPES will become the 'standard'. Their developed application can be used as a standalone app - or alternatively the base kernel of their app has been made freely available to be integrated into global airline's individual apps. Air New Zealand for instance is already working on integrating the IATA code into the Air New Zealand phone app.

There are also multiple existing free apps like VeriFLY, which is being used in the USA by American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and will be used by British Airways for their flights to the USA.

Other efforts are underway, as well. The EU is already in early steps of developing an EU-based solution. IBM and a number of other US companies are working on solutions for the North American continent. Even here in Australia, our Prime Minister has hinted at the Government developing an app (despite the fact that - as mentioned - the Medicare app apparently supports it).

You also need to bear in mind that it is not just Government / Immigration that will want a say. The airlines themselves are quickly aligning around solutions which best suit their own check-in and data tools.

Sounds pretty scary to be honest, if hotels are getting into the act and not just airlines. I hope this is just a trial but doesn't proceed beyond that.

How many travellers apart from children whom I assume will be included in their parents' app wouldn't have a smartphone?  Of course, there will be a manual process but trying to throw the argument up as a reason to do nothing is just a distraction.

I know a lot of people without "smart" phones. I know people without "dumb" phones.

I know people with smart phones that don't use iOS or Android, or use an older (or even an extremely new) version that the app doesn't work on.

It would be nice if governments, international bodies and bushiness's would stop assuming that everyone has a smart phone, with an OS that their app will work on, and mobile data to spare.

They assume that everyone has a smart phone because that is what they want to happen. It makes everything easier for them, and they get bonus data collection on the side.

@Himeno,

Agree 100% but would also add that .... Governments also PRESUME that passengers will arrive at Immigration check-points with fully charged (ie. not FLAT) cell-phone batteries. Ahhh, you have to love naïve innocence.

Exactly. If you're like me and you own a Chinese smartphone with very short battery life, then using it for just a couple of hours on a long-haul flight will wear out the battery, which will be flat by the time I arrive at immigration.

But I thought the whole point of smartphone apps is to avoid paper printouts, which can "easily be forged"?

Very well said GoRobin. I personally see it more as a marketing gimmick than anything. It's hilarious to see all the self-righteous folk on social media who are dissing the Chinese and Russian vaccines, claiming Australian immigration won't accept them, but since these may be the only ones available in many countries, including not just China and Russia, but places like Laos, various former Soviet states, African and Latin American countries, it would be impossible to accept only some vaccines but not others, otherwise this digital vaccine passport project is doomed for failure.

@GoRobin,

Just out of curiosity ..... how many times have you ever been denied entry into any Australian airport when travelling back from Zimbabwe or anywhere in Africa - with your little, yellow - non digital, paper - Health vaccination book containing your Yellow Fever validation certificate? I'd wager .... oh, about none. See, it's not necessarily that difficult. Inconvenient, maybe ..

The 'queries' you refer to will not be about the vaccines themselves, whether US, German, Chinese, Russian or Indian origin. Let's face it - the Russian and Chinese products are being distributed to many South American and African countries. The main issues will be where the vaccine was administered and by whom. Security and Government validation of the provider (ie. hospital, clinic, GP etc) will be the main criteria for virtually ALL immigration facilities worldwide.

@nelsonlee,

I am sure that the TGA would disagree with your statement on Emergency Use of vaccines. Australia is one of the very few countries that is approving vaccines under the full approval process. You are correct that vaccination programs in many countries commenced with Emergency Usage provisions, but Australia (and New Zealand) are not amongst them.

In respect of your comment on Digital Covid vaccination passports, I'd like to know your source. Without a source, this statement is merely your own opinion. 

It also differs markedly from the previous statements from the Australian Government, the CEO of Australia's international airline, and most of the foreign carriers flying into Australia and New Zealand - who are already preparing solutions for anticipated legislation in their own countries as well as ours.