WASHINGTON — A coalition of big technology and health care companies — including Microsoft and Salesforce — are pushing for COVID vaccination passports.
They have formed a group called the Vaccine Credential Initiative. Other members include the Mayo Clinic, Oracle, Mitre and the Carin Alliance — whose board members including Apple.
“VCI’s vision is to empower individuals to obtain an encrypted digital copy of their immunization credentials to store in a digital wallet of their choice. Those without smartphones could receive paper printed with QR codes containing W3C verifiable credentials,” the group said in a statement.
The passports could be used to open up and conversely restrict travel, employment and other activities depending on whether one has gotten a COVID vaccine.
“The goal of the Vaccination Credential Initiative is to empower individuals with digital access to their vaccination records so they can use tools like CommonPass to safely return to travel, work, school, and life, while protecting their data privacy,” said Paul Meyer, CEO of The Commons Project Foundation”. The group is part of the VCI push.
COVID vaccines are not mandatory in the U.S. but other countries, airlines, events venues, universities and some employers might require them for travel, employment and entry.
The COVID vaccine passports would help accomplish that though they face plenty of concerns from those worried about civil liberties, privacy and Orwellian slippery slopes.