Possibility of implementing a ‘vaccination passport’ causes division into sectors

The idea of ​​creating a COVID-19 “vaccination passport” is divisive. The economic sector demands it, others consider it an affront to freedoms, while many scientists invite us not to rush due to the little knowledge we still have about the brand new vaccines.

However, this now called 'passport' is an instrument that already exists. The concept is not new. Many countries impose the obligation to be vaccinated against certain diseases to enter their territory, such as yellow fever.

Health centers provide a yellow vaccination card, officially called the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“At the request of the Member States, there could be a resolution” from the WHO, so that the “COVID vaccine was mentioned in the booklet,” says Dr. Antoine Flahault, professor of Epidemiology at the University of Geneva.

Some also draw a parallel to childhood vaccinations that are mandatory for enrolling in daycare or school. For example, in the case of France, “eleven mandatory vaccines allow the fundamental freedom of education in school,” underlines Frédéric Adnet, professor of Emergency Medicine at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

The CEO of the Australian airline Qantas, Alan Joyce, was the first to defend in November the 'need' for international travelers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to be able to board.

Other companies and government officials spoke in the same vein and stressed that a certificate would allow quarantine measures to be avoided when entering a country.

The Gulf companies, Emirates and Etihad, will soon test the IATA Travel Pass application, conceived by the International Air Transport Association, which will allow passengers to “verify that their pre-travel test or vaccination meets the requirements of their destination.” .

Supporters of the vaccination passport, numerous in the tourism and leisure sector, also see it as a way to “return to life as before”, with safe access to shows, restaurants and football stadiums.

Dr. Adnet, one of the few defenders of the idea that has been expressed publicly in the medical sector, describes this document as 'ethical', "if the vaccine is effective", since it will allow a return to greater normality and life. social.

Meanwhile, detractors of the document say that it would constitute an affront to individual freedoms.

The president of Paris Airports, Augustin de Romanet, says that although the document is 'favorable' to "limit the downturn in the economy to the maximum", it can be destructive for society "to fall into a system in which for the "The fact that one has not been vaccinated cannot even cross the door of the bakery."

Others involved warn of the risk of the emergence of a black market for vaccines, as already exists for negative PCR certificates.

Meanwhile, the medical community emphasizes that one thing is creating a document with the idea of ​​avoiding spreading the epidemic and the other is the real protection offered by the vaccine.

The vaccines administered since December in the world prevent the development of COVID-19 disease, but studies have yet to determine if they also prevent infection with the virus and its transmission. The protection time is also unknown.

These “fundamental unknowns” are the reason why experts from the WHO Emergency Committee last month were opposed to making entry into a country conditional “for now” on proof of vaccination.

Some also argue that imposing such a document would be discriminatory against those who have not yet been vaccinated due to the limited number of doses in the world. So far, 135.5 million doses have been administered in the world, in at least 90 countries and territories, two months after the first massive campaigns.

However, this now called 'passport' is an instrument that already exists. The concept is not new. Many countries impose the obligation to be vaccinated against certain diseases to enter their territory, such as yellow fever.

Health centers provide a yellow vaccination card, officially called the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).

“At the request of the Member States, there could be a resolution” from the WHO, so that the “COVID vaccine was mentioned in the booklet,” says Dr. Antoine Flahault, professor of Epidemiology at the University of Geneva.

Some also draw a parallel to childhood vaccinations that are mandatory for enrolling in daycare or school. For example, in the case of France, “eleven mandatory vaccines allow the fundamental freedom of education in school,” underlines Frédéric Adnet, professor of Emergency Medicine at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

The CEO of the Australian airline Qantas, Alan Joyce, was the first to defend in November the 'need' for international travelers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to be able to board.

Other companies and government officials spoke in the same vein and stressed that a certificate would allow quarantine measures to be avoided when entering a country.

The Gulf companies, Emirates and Etihad, will soon test the IATA Travel Pass application, conceived by the International Air Transport Association, which will allow passengers to “verify that their pre-travel test or vaccination meets the requirements of their destination.” .

Supporters of the vaccination passport, numerous in the tourism and leisure sector, also see it as a way to “return to life as before”, with safe access to shows, restaurants and football stadiums.

Dr. Adnet, one of the few defenders of the idea that has been expressed publicly in the medical sector, describes this document as 'ethical', "if the vaccine is effective", since it will allow a return to greater normality and life. social.

Meanwhile, detractors of the document say that it would constitute an affront to individual freedoms.

The president of Paris Airports, Augustin de Romanet, says that although the document is 'favorable' to "limit the downturn in the economy to the maximum", it can be destructive for society "to fall into a system in which for the "The fact that one has not been vaccinated cannot even cross the door of the bakery."

Others involved warn of the risk of the emergence of a black market for vaccines, as already exists for negative PCR certificates.

Meanwhile, the medical community emphasizes that one thing is creating a document with the idea of ​​avoiding spreading the epidemic and the other is the real protection offered by the vaccine.

The vaccines administered since December in the world prevent the development of COVID-19 disease, but studies have yet to determine if they also prevent infection with the virus and its transmission. The protection time is also unknown.

These “fundamental unknowns” are the reason why experts from the WHO Emergency Committee last month were opposed to making entry into a country conditional “for now” on proof of vaccination.

Some also argue that imposing such a document would be discriminatory against those who have not yet been vaccinated due to the limited number of doses in the world. So far, 135.5 million doses have been administered in the world, in at least 90 countries and territories, two months after the first massive campaigns.