{"id":187240,"date":"2021-06-21T12:00:35","date_gmt":"2021-06-21T11:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=187240"},"modified":"2021-06-17T05:51:34","modified_gmt":"2021-06-17T04:51:34","slug":"eu-approves-covid-passport-heres-how-it-works-and-why-the-u-s-doesnt-have-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2021\/06\/eu-approves-covid-passport-heres-how-it-works-and-why-the-u-s-doesnt-have-one\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Approves COVID Passport: Here\u2019s How It Works\u2014and Why the U.S. Doesn\u2019t Have One"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The European Commission on June 14 signed legislation to create the EU Digital COVID Certificate, but U.S. law still prohibits the creation of a national vaccine database, leaving vaccine passport decisions up to the states.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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16 Jun 2021 – <\/em>The European Commission on June 14 formally signed legislation<\/a> to create the EU Digital COVID Certificate<\/a>. The regulation will take effect<\/a> July 1 and expire in 12 months.<\/p>\n

Member States are required to start issuing the first certificates within six weeks of the July 1 start date, if they haven\u2019t done so by then.<\/p>\n

During the official signing ceremony<\/a>, three main EU institutions \u2014 Parliament, the Council and the Commission \u2014 signed the regulation to show their support, asserting the certificate is \u201ca symbol of what Europe stands for.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Croatia and Poland started issuing the first passports on June 1. Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg and Spain began issuing passports days later.<\/p>\n

The remainder of the EU and Schengen Area countries, except for Hungary and Finland which are still in the test phase<\/a>, are expected to connect to the new technology framework.<\/p>\n

How the EU passport works<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Under the vaccine passport scheme, each EU Member State will issue its own certificate, but all will adopt<\/a> the same entry requirements for visitors.<\/p>\n

Individuals will obtain their passports through test centers or health authorities, or directly via an eHealth portal.<\/p>\n

The digital version of the certificate can be stored on a mobile device. Citizens can also request a paper version. Both will have a QR code that contains essential information, as well as a digital signature to make sure the certificate is authentic.<\/p>\n

The Digital COVID Certificate will show that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result or recovered from the virus.<\/p>\n

The certificate information differs based on the vaccination status of users. For those who have received their shot, the vaccine manufacture, date of vaccination and the number of doses will be documented.<\/p>\n

For those who have not yet been vaccinated, Member States require PCR or antigen test results be provided when traveling between countries. The passport will record the<\/a> \u201ctype of test, date and exact time of test, name of the test centre and the results.\u201d<\/p>\n

The stated intent<\/a> of the Digital COVID Certificate is to allow people to move between EU countries<\/a> without having to quarantine or undergo extra coronavirus tests. However, according to the regulation<\/a>, member states can impose extra travel restrictions in cases where \u201cadditional measures are a must in order to safeguard the public health.\u201d<\/p>\n

What about travelers from outside the U.S.?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Earlier this month, an EU spokesperson said<\/a> the app could be extended to citizens from non-EU countries, including U.S. Americans who obtain the certificate would be exempt from travel restrictions and quarantine requirements.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now if you\u2019re an American, not living in the EU, you could get the certificate if you ask the national authorities of a member state to give you that certificate based on some proof that you\u2019ve been vaccinated, or had a recent COVID test,\u201d said the EU spokesperson.<\/p>\n

The decision on whether to allow non-EU citizens to use the app rests with each individual member state.<\/p>\n

Why U.S. won\u2019t have national vaccine passport anytime soon<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A fierce debate has kicked off across the U.S. over whether a digital health certificate or \u201cvaccine passports<\/a>\u201d should be required to prove vaccine status, The New York Times<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n

So far, the Biden administration has resisted the idea of a \u201cvaccine passport\u201d for the U.S. On May 28, U.S. Director of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas said<\/a> the U.S. was taking a \u201cvery close look\u201d at vaccine passports for international travel. Later that day, the DHS clarified<\/a> there will be no \u201cfederal mandate\u201d for vaccine passports in the U.S.<\/p>\n

According to the Los Angeles Times<\/a>, the U.S. does not have a national database for immunization records that could act as the source of vaccination data for use in digital passes. That\u2019s because a national system to create a unique identification number to link the health records of every American has been banned since 1998, spearheaded by then-Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), who said such a system would be an unwarranted privacy intrusion.<\/p>\n

An attempt to overturn the ban<\/a> passed the U.S. House in 2019, but was rejected<\/a> by the Senate.<\/p>\n

In the absence of a federal policy, Americans could need several digital passes, similar to having many credit cards in a wallet, The Los Angeles Times reported<\/a>. It could also mean employers, businesses and venue operators will each have to decide which option works for them \u2014 or might not bother using any at all.<\/p>\n

A growing number of businesses \u2014 from cruise lines<\/a> to sports venues<\/a> \u2014 have already said they will require proof of vaccinations for entry or services.<\/p>\n

Hundreds of digital health pass initiatives are attempting to launch<\/a> apps that provide a verified electronic record of immunizations and negative COVID test results to streamline the process for businesses and other institutions.<\/p>\n

States take a stand<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The issue has sparked debate<\/a> in the U.S., and led a number of states to introduce legislation to curtail or ban vaccine passports<\/a> due to privacy<\/a>, equity, liberty and accountability concerns.<\/p>\n

These states include Florida<\/a>, Texas<\/a>, Missouri<\/a>, Utah<\/a>, Arizona<\/a>, Arkansas<\/a>, Montana<\/a>, Indiana<\/a>, Iowa<\/a>, Alaska<\/a>, Alabama<\/a>, South Carolina<\/a>, North Dakota<\/a>, South Dakota<\/a>, Georgia<\/a>, Wyoming<\/a> and Idaho<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So far,\u00a0 vaccine passports have been implemented<\/a> in two states \u2014 New York<\/a> and Hawaii.<\/p>\n

New York implemented<\/a> the \u201cExcelsior Pass\u201d \u2014 an electronic proof of vaccination developed by IBM \u2014 that some businesses in the state are requiring for entry.<\/p>\n

According to The New York Times<\/a>, the state plans to expand the program \u2014 estimated to cost taxpayers $17 million \u2014 possibly using the system in the future to verify a resident\u2019s age, driver\u2019s license status and other health records.<\/p>\n

In Hawaii, fully vaccinated individuals who upload proof of vaccination to the state\u2019s \u201cSafe Travels<\/a>\u201d system are allowed to travel inter-county without pre-travel testing or quarantine restrictions. Gov. David Ige said he is targeting July 4 for allowing vaccinated out-of-state travelers who come into Hawaii<\/a> to bypass restrictions<\/a> through a similar system.<\/p>\n

Beginning June 15, Hawaii will expand<\/a> its passport program to trans-Pacific travelers who have been vaccinated in Hawaii.<\/p>\n

Late last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced<\/a> his state will roll out a new vaccine verification system<\/a> for private businesses.<\/p>\n

During an event in San Francisco on June 14, Newsom said the system will consist of electronic vaccine cards that individuals can keep on their phones as opposed to carrying around a paper card.<\/p>\n

Once the state fully reopens without capacity limits, which happened Tuesday, businesses can require individuals to show their vaccine cards to prove they do not need to wear a mask, SFGATE reported<\/a>. Newsom will announce California\u2019s version of this electronic system later this week.<\/p>\n

In all of the new or proposed digital passes or apps in the U.S., people who have been vaccinated or received a negative test result must first consent to have their information uploaded into the pass or app, the Los Angeles Times reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Outside the EU and U.S., Australia earlier this month rolled out a digital proof of vaccination certificate<\/a>, and Japan plans to issue one<\/a> as soon as this summer.<\/p>\n

__________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Megan Redshaw is a freelance reporter for <\/em>The Defender. She has a background in political science, a law degree and extensive training in natural health. <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Go to Original \u2013 childrenshealthdefense.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The European Commission on June 14 formally signed legislation to create the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The regulation will take effect July 1 and expire in 12 months. Member States are required to start issuing the first certificates within six weeks of the July 1 start date, if they haven\u2019t done so by then.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":187241,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[1829,1868,1268,2482],"class_list":["post-187240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-europe","tag-coronavirus","tag-covid-19","tag-european-union","tag-vaccine-passports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/187241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}