KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new app that will travelers keep track of documents in a post pandemic world could be available in a matter of weeks, according to the International Air Transport Association. The app is also called a ‘digital passport.’ There are many organizations and companies working on apps like this.
VACCINATION CREDENTIAL INITIATIVE
North Kansas City-based Cerner is part of a team that involves the Mayo Clinic, Microsoft, and Oracle. This version of the digital passport will be known as the Vaccination Credential Initiative.
It will help travelers:
- Store an encrypted digital copy of a vaccination record
- Provide a paper QR code to anyone without a smartphone. The QR code links to a person’s vaccine records
“This process needs to be as easy online banking. We are committed to working collectively with the technology and medical communities, as well as global governments, to ensure people will have secure access to this information where and when they need it,” Mike Sicilia, executive vice president of Oracle’s Global Business Units, said.
The companies involved in the Vaccination Credential Initiative haven’t said when the app will be ready to use.
THE TRAVEL PASS
The International Air Transport Association’s app is expected to be available within a “matter of weeks,” and will work in much the same way as the VCI’s program. The Travel Pass is expected to easily help travelers, airlines, and countries do certain things:
- Verify a passenger had a COVID-19 test
- Verify a traveler has required vaccines needed to enter a country
- Verify that the test or vaccine was administered by an approved authority
The I.A.T.A. says an app like this one is necessary as airlines reopen travel and countries begin reopening borders. Singapore Airlines was the first airline to try this digital passport. The I.A.T.A. is now working with other airlines.
The Travel Pass will likely be free for users when it’s available for iOS and Android.
DIGITAL HEALTH PASS
IBM is working to develop it’s own version, called Digital Health Pass. The company describes it as a way for organizations to verify health credentials for employees, customers and visitors.
IBM says it’s version allows people to maintain control of their personal health records and share it when necessary.
The company says that by using it’s Digital Health Pass, your personal data will not be exposed to others.
Companies, and even other countries are working on their own versions of apps in hopes of getting world business and tourism running again.