Various countries across the world are drafting plans to introduce COVID-19 vaccine passports. Supporters of these certificates argue that they are essential for ensuring borders can reopen safely, which would allow economic recovery and a return to some sort of normal. Additionally, they may serve as an incentive for people to get vaccinated, positively impacting those receiving the vaccine and everyone in society. On the other hand, many believe that the use of these documents could be unethical, fuel inequality, and may be ineffective. These sorts of documents are not a new concept, but now with extremely unequal COVID-19 vaccine distribution in a pandemic, new issues may arise.
Vaccine passports are most functional when many people want to get vaccinated, but are unable to, due to scarcity. They would not be necessary once everyone is vaccinated or if nobody was vaccinated. The circumstances required for the need for these travel certificates also create unjust conditions. The implementation of COVID-19 vaccine passports would further fuel the impacts of the unequal vaccine distribution and inequality being widened as a result of the pandemic. For many migrants of colour who had to return home at the start of the pandemic, vaccine passports might be their way back into their jobs, but at present, they are last in line to receive the vaccines. As of February 17th, 2021, just 10 countries had administered 75% of total COVID-19 vaccines. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, also stated 130 countries had not received a single vaccine dose. Furthermore, access to vaccines, as well as smart-phones for proof of vaccination is lower in marginalised communities and for asylum-seekers, further disadvantaging them. Tourism-dependent countries face the decision of protecting their tourism industry for revenue, or protecting the lives of their residents by stopping the spread. There is also the issue of certification of healthcare providers and testing labs being most difficult in the poorest countries.
Medical professionals are currently unsure whether these documents would be effective. The WHO released a paper on February 5th insisting vaccinated people should continue to follow lockdown and coronavirus restrictions. Additionally, they claim travelling internationally through the use of vaccine passports would be “premature”. Critics of the system also claim it is a waste of money if countries like the UK aim to vaccinate all adults by the end of July. Fears that cheating and fake certificates will be used and cause further outbreaks have also been expressed.
With vaccine passports, many questions come into play regarding its efficacy, as well as the psychological, economic, and human rights impacts. If a vaccine passport system were put in place, it would have to be executed extremely well and with no abuses of power or corruption. The bottom line is that we all have to carry on social distancing, wearing masks, and sticking to lockdown rules, as well as pushing for vaccination and systemic equality in our journey towards herd immunity.
Written by Anoushka Joshi
Artwork by Zara Masood
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