COVID-19 Vaccine Certificate

The impact of COVID-19 has posed numerous unprecedented challenges to humanity and the long journey of this pandemic has taught the mankind many lessons. Now the only way left to avoid the devastating effect of COVID-19 is vaccination and people have also realized its importance. People traveling from one country to another are facing many problems…..….
By Dr NK Prasanna/ Dr SK Varshney

The vaccination certificate has further added to their ordeal. Although this is not something unusual however, the changing guidelines have created confusions among travelers. A COVID Vaccine Certificate (CVC) issued by the government gives assurance to the recipient about the immunization, the type of vaccine used and the next vaccination due date. It also serves as proof for the citizen to provide to any entity that may demand proof of immunization, particularly while travelling.

The COVID Vaccine Certificate (CVC) is anticipated to become an essential instrument for tracking and managing vaccine rollouts and reviving national economies. A certificate like this will be required to enable the safe movement of people across borders, as well as to revitalize the tourist sector, which is vital for many developing nations. The countries are currently using similar schemes in the absence of an internationally recognized credential for COVID-19 immunization. Denmark has stated that COVID-19 passports would be issued and printed through the unified Danish e Health Portal. Those who have been vaccinated in Israel will be issued a “green passport,” which will give them entry to eateries and cultural events, also exempting them from quarantine regulations and the requirement of a virus test before travel.

Greece and Israel have previously agreed to recognize the green passports of each other. Everyone who has been vaccinated in India will receive an electronic certificate based on a QR code on their smart phone, with the option to download a print copy. According to the reports, European nations are considering to introduce a “Digital Green Certificate” that will permit safe and unrestricted mobility within the EU during the epidemic. According to the plan a Digital Green Certificate, which can be used across all EU Member States, will prove that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19, has gotten a negative test result, or has recovered from Covid-19.

 

Experts believe that a ‘natural certificate’ will be far more effective than a negative RT-PCR test or oral vaccine certificate because a vaccinated person can very well carry infection from one place to another, but there is a high probability that the virus will not cause any serious disease to that individual. This has led to the development of the idea of Digital Documentation of COVID-19 Certificates (DDCC). The idea of Digital Documentation of COVID-19 Certificates (DDCC) is presented in the context of the corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic as a mechanism by which a person’s COVID-19-related health data may be digitally recorded via an electronic certificate. A digital vaccination certificate that details a person’s current COVID-19 vaccination status may subsequently be utilized for continuity of care or as proof of immunization for non-healthcare purposes. The Digital Documentation of COVID-19 Certificates: Vaccination Status (DDCC: VS) is the resultant artifact of this method.

The specification of the Smart Vaccination Certificate is renamed to the specification “Digital Documentation of COVID19 Certificates (DDCC)”. In addition, WHO recognizes the importance of digitizing the International Certificate for Vaccination and Prophylaxis on paper (i.e. yellow card) over time and has decided to take a longer-term perspective in this regard to examine the various options. The scope and technical requirements for the digital documentation of COVID19 certificates (DDCC) are no longer coordinated with the mandate of the Smart Vaccination Certificate working group when it was founded; therefore the “Smart Vaccination Card Working Group” will be dissolved in its current form.

Dr. Sanjay Rai, Professor of Community Medicine, AIIMS, Delhi., said, “There is global evidence showing that people naturally recovered from COVI-19 are well protected and the risks of infection from these people are very low.” Although, naturally cured should not need testing or a vaccination certificate. I suggest that these people receive a special certificate, which one can call a “natural certificate” and be honored as a negative RT-PCR test, he added. Experts believe that a “natural certificate” will be much more effective than RT-PCR negative and according to them, a vaccinated person can very well transmit the virus from one place to another; however, there is a good chance that the virus will not cause any severe illness in that individual.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Global COVID summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden on September 23, 2021, said that India wants international travel to be made easier through mutual recognition of vaccine certificates. Many international flyers are facing uncertainties because of last-minute changes to flight cancelations because of the Covid Vaccination certificate. Disruptions hit from India to other countries like London Dubai Italy etc. For sure some clarity on vaccines and international travel is needed for a common global system, a significant interaction, cooperation, flexibility in adjusting to the “new normal”, during the COVID-19 pandemic are need of the hour. Sometimes many crucial public health policy questions remain unanswered .

Unprecedented episodes led to extraordinary initiatives, where mutual cooperation is required. The journey was not easy for all of us its always seems impossible until it was done . But it was never impossible, together we have beaten this deadly virus before and we will continue to combat it further with the spirit of solidarity. We need to develop harmonious system and enhanced international cooperation is required to strengthen coordination and collaboration for building sustainable and resilient world.

(The authors are Scientist at CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research, New Delhi/ Head, International Cooperation, Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi)

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