nd2010

I’d say that the record of vaccination should be issued similar to a visa on a passport. Make it hard to forge and verifiable with a database. It’s hard to forge a central database.

Catbert10

The intersection between the group wanting to travel internationally with the group who doesn't want to vaccinate with the group willing and able to forge vaccination documentation is so small that forgery won't be an issue.

GUWonder

I suggest that US travel to warm weather tourist hotspots this season may indicate that some of what may have been true in prior years may no longer be as clear cut a situation now or tomorrow. Most people won't be willing to engage in fraud to do international travel, but I think that the more hoops there are to jump to travel abroad, the more likely there turns out to be people who finds themselves in a situation where they consider doing -- and then actually do -- things which they shouldn't be doing since it invites being prosecuted for a crime.

skybluesea

See my posts below, would take far too long to link vaccination records through passport databases to make this realistic for 2021-2022 resumption of travel. Although I agree with you, we are decades away from the global consensus needed to achieve what you correctly say is technically possible today - something called politics and NOT wanting to be accountable for the mistakes made in other countries generally reigns in this kind of inter-state policy decision-making.

You are looking at this from the end of the generally legitimate travelers, whereas border control policies start with the premise that even the smallest error in interdiction efforts can cause major calamity - which is a clear lesson from the 9/11 Commission that errors were made in processing just a handful of people at both Embassies abroad and then upon arrival at U.S. Ports-of-Entry.

Rather, as I explained below, would only take few forgeries to create havoc amongst border control agencies everywhere. Forgery of the U.N. WHO compliant Yellow Book already exists, and as countries are all making up their own C-19 vaccination records, how will a border control agency in another country know what is real and what is not.

Unfortunately, in the world of border controls that I know well, only takes a VERY FEW bad apples to make cross-border travel difficult for everyone else.

doctoravios

I think eventually for longer duration visa applications many countries may require antibody testing to demonstrate response to a COVID-19 vaccination (or evidence of previous exposure), as is currently the case for hepatitis B, measles and rubella antibodies for healthcare workers. For shorter duration travel, I think once the pandemic has died down and nationals have been immunised then many countries will accept a certificate of some sort from foreign travellers. It is just too costly for everyone to get antibody testing and I am not certain many countries have the capacity to provide it en masse.

However, this is all dependent on being able to produce a reliable antibody test which can be used in this way and at scale.

smes

Likely something involving Distributed Ledger Technology, which is similar to blockchain.

the810

I wonder to what extent it may or not be possible to add data like this to the chip of biometric passports (incl those already issued).

​​​​That being said, I don't really think this will be as big as some people expect. Travel restrictions will be lifted depending on the overal course of the pandemic, not individual vaccination status. As long as the pandemic continues, there will be very little appetite to resume travel, especially while it remains uknown whether vaccinated people can spread the virus. Remember, we've had immune people around for months and so far very few countries introduced exceptions for them (despite natural immunity providing better protection than vaccines).

84fiero

Actually you can order blank Yellow Cards from the US Government Printing Office as well as commercial sellers. The yellow fever vaccine doesn't have to be administered by a local US health authority, but the provider giving the injection does have to be authorized by the state health agency in order to do so. Mine was given by a travel clinic doctor, not my state or county health agency - most of which do not even provide the service in my state.

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/ye...rs%20to%20CDC.

Any doctor can become authorized and administer the shot. The CDC maintains a directory of authorized providers that is easy to look up:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/se...amaril-clinics

danielonn

Why not have an electronic Database linked to the Passport and ESTA system. 72 hours before flying you log in,confirm you have no COVID symptoms. The info is linked to your Passport/GOES/State ID. A DOCS OK is printed on your Boarding Pass for Domestic and International Travel along with a QR Code automatically uploaded to the airline system and Passport Authorities much like an ESTA Visa.

Perhaps requiring E-Visas and having for instance the US Dept of Health maintain an electronic Database of all vaccinated people ranging from Yellow Fever,Influenza to COVID. Airlines also have access to the system to verify vaccination and can deny the passenger boarding. If a passenger cannot get a vaccine or is refusing to do so other means would be required for boarding.

A paper vaccine record can get easily lost.

LAXlocal

got my first shot yesterday at Dodger stadium ,

I was given a small credit card size card with the date for my second shot , plus I am in their database to get email and text updates,

Hopefully I will get a "fancy" card when I get the second shot to prove i have had both shots , and maybe a QR code that the airlines can read,

i0wnj00

Given the fragmented nature of healthcare in this country I’m not optimistic that such certificate is even possible, there are many different ways and places to get immunized. People move from state to state or move out of the country, which makes it difficult to track them. Unless, you have access to the VA system, the rest of us either have no health insurance or health insurance from work, which changes from time to time.

Dublin_rfk

The certificate is possible as to whether it is completely accepted by our fragmented healthcare system is a completely different story. I have a odd sized white card with CDC and HHS logos. On it is the vaccine information with lot and date code and is stamped over the info. I have been tested every two weeks and still need to do so. So it and a dollar will get me a cup of coffee.

SFO777

Agree. Probably just like this? 4"x3".

radonc1

Fancy card after the second shot??
That is not going to happen
The above is what you get. Your second shot is just added below the first shot.

I have this card filled out. I trimmed the edges so that it would fit into my wallet, and now I carry evidence of vaccination.

However, I highly doubt that this would suffice for any international travel documentation.

Dublin_rfk

Glue stick'ed in the back of my passport. Until there is an accepted standard It's no more or less legal for travel in general than the yellow fever card or the Vaccination booklet. As of 02/02/2021 Japan isn't accepting it for entry.