Vaccine Passports: Desperate Measures & Fragmented Solutions

A significant amount of activity continues to make headlines with respect to increasing COVID cases, travel restrictions, and vaccine passports. Last week the UK laid out its fall plan for tackling COVID, including the end of PCR tests for travel.[i] In previous weeks, the EU recommended countries reinstate restrictions on US travelers due to the increase in cases.[ii] A number of US States guided by Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations have backtracked on mask requirements as Delta cases soar.

The mishmash approach by individual countries and states to implement, adopt, monitor, and enforce vaccine cards and passports, escalating COVID cases, and border measures continues to complicate travel and business plans. How can businesses and travelers strategize and react when the global COVID situation is so fluid?

It is important to acknowledge that COVID and the multitude of variants will likely be a constant presence for the foreseeable future. Individual countries will continue to be affected in various ways at different times. COVID zero is an unrealistic approach to recovery. Australia reversed its COVID zero posture in late August.[iii] China and New Zealand continue to maintain theirs—for now.[iv][v] Border closures and restrictive lockdowns, while still in use by approximately 70 percent of the countries in the Asia Pacific, are less common in Europe and elsewhere.[vi]

Despite the recent EU announcement to implement restrictions, we assess that EU countries will not universally move to completely restrict foreigner access and close borders. Investment and tourism within countries that imposed more stringent border measures continue to take their toll[vii], which will eventually force these countries to reevaluate reopening plans and lockdowns. This is especially true if there is renewed pressure from citizens within these countries. Indefinite lockdowns and border closures are not solutions to healthy recoveries.

For intrepid travelers and businesses that have resumed travel, renewed entry and testing requirements, “acceptable” documents, lengthy quarantines, and contradictory messaging and processes can further complicate travel plans and lead to unforeseen expenses. The proliferation of required, optional, and preferred COVID entry and vaccine apps and processes can further complicate travel planning.

Thus far, there has not been a universally accepted vaccine passport for travel, and there likely will not be one. Individual states, countries, and independent agencies have developed and implemented their own apps, passes, or QR codes to help expedite travel and proof of vaccination and testing. [viii][ix][x][xi][xii][xiii][xiv][xv][xvi] Much of the verification takes place online or is physically checked upon arrival at airports. France is one country that allows Non Europeans to obtain a local Passe Sanitaire (the French Health Pass) from uploaded vaccine card data. More countries will surely follow with this conversion approach.

The proliferation of COVID-related apps that continue to come online raises concerns with respect to Personal Identifiable Information (PII), Personal Health Information (PHI) and broad acceptance. While the security standards of some apps may pass muster, others may not. The rush to identify and create solutions for contract tracing early in the pandemic led to insecure applications and software that had the potential to affect millions of people.[xvii] Users must assess individual comfort levels and tolerances for disseminating PII and PHI across multiple platforms. The claim by developers that apps have broad acceptance may be true; however, governments and states may eventually give preference to their own platforms and phase out partnerships with infant COVID apps. 

COVID’s effect on societies, our daily lives, and travel necessitates a flexible mindset and logical approach with respect to the adoption and use of emerging solutions for vaccine proof and entry requirements. A tiered strategy can help individuals and travelers navigate the health and proof of vaccine requirements at home and while traveling.

Local Day-to-Day – Download or sign up for apps or QR codes developed by the state where individuals claim their main residence (where available). Residents of these states are assured broad acceptance by restaurants and businesses where proof of vaccination is required.

Domestic and some International Travel - The CLEAR Health Pass or the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Pass Initiative are sound options. CLEAR already has partnerships and infrastructure in place at many domestic US airports and venues. Similarly, dozens of domestic and international airlines are trialing the IATA Travel Pass; at least one international airport accepts the Travel Pass for pre-departure checks.[xviii] Both programs are known entities in the travel space with existing track records of success.

International Travel and Backup Use - Travelers that are scheduled to depart for countries that mandate travel apps or require pre-trip digital verification must adhere to these government options. The non-compatibility of the EU Pass/individual country passes with US vaccine cards requires travelers to keep digital photos/scans and physical copies of CDC vaccine cards. This serves as proof of vaccination when countries/states do not have internal platforms or validation measures. This strategy should continue until a more permanent solution materializes.

It is highly likely that the very processes and technologies that are being tested today will be adopted on a more permanent basis in the future, much like enhanced airport screenings remained after the September 11, 2001 attacks. In the meantime, delays and evolving testing and entry requirements should be expected for every domestic and international trip.

Sources:

[i] No Author, “UK health secretary signals the end of PCR COVID-19 tests for travel”, Reuters, September 14, 2021.

[ii] Samuel Petrequin, “EU takes US off safe travel list; backs travel restrictions”, AP News, August 30, 2021.

[iii] No Author, “Australia is ending its zero-covid strategy”, The Economist, August 28, 2021.

[iv] Colum Murphy, Kari Soo Lindberg, “China’s Covid-Zero Strategy Risks Leaving It Isolated for Years”, Bloomberg Business, August 9, 2021.

[v] Tess McClure, “New Zealand won’t ‘throw in the towel’ on Covid-zero strategy despite rising infections”, The Guardian, August 25, 2021.

[vi] No Author, “Vaccines and digital solutions to ease travel restrictions”, United Nations World Tourism Association, July 5, 2021.

[vii] Liza Lin, Stella Yifan Xie, “Economic Costs Accumulate as Countries Worried by Delta Variant Extend Border Closures”, The Wall Street Journal, September 11, 2021.

[viii] No Author, “Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record”, CA.Gov, No Date.

[ix] No Author, “Excelsior Pass and Excelsior Pass Plus”, New York State, No Date.

[x] No Author, “Pass Sanitaire”, Gouvernement.fr, July 12, 2021.

[xi] No Author, “Use ArriveCAN to enter Canada”, Government of Canada, No Date.

[xii] No Author, “Safe Travel Concierge”, Changi Airport, No Date.

[xiii] No Author, “EU Digital Covid Certificate”, European Commission, No Date.

[xiv] No Author, “MyIRMobile”, MyIRMobile, No Date.

[xv] No Author, “CommonPass”, CommonPass, No Date.

[xvi] No Author, “Verifly”, Verifly, No Date.

[xvii] Natasha Singer, “Virus-Tracing Apps Are Rife With Problems. Governments Are Rushing to Fix Them”, The New York Times, July 8, 2020.

[xviii] No Author, “Singapore to accept Covid-19 digital travel pass from next month”, CNBC, April 5, 2021.