VPass: An Open-Source COVID-19 Vaccine Passport, and Vaccine Hesitancy

The use of technology is one of the keys to combating the covid-19 pandemic. This paper proposes and demonstrates an implementation of a digital vaccine passport /certificate is, called VPass, for taking non-essential services. This passport will represent someone's vaccination status while preserving all personal data safe. The developed application is platform-independent and accessible using any device connected to the internet. This application also keeps an offline copy in a device or a printed copy of a vaccine passport for convenience. A quick response (QR) code will show the COVID-19 vaccination status. All data stored and transmitted between the front (to the end user) and backend (to and from the server) are fully encrypted. This paper presents the technical detail of implementing a digital vaccine passport for COVID-19. This application could also be used for keeping other vaccination records/certificates. © 2022 IEEE.

International Efforts and Next Steps to Advance COVID-19 Vaccines Research and Production in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Equitable and efficient distribution of COVID-19 vaccines continues to be a key issue in global health, and a targeted approach is needed to meet the World Health Organization's world vaccination targets. Although some low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are developing their own vaccines to address the distribution problem, legal and technical challenges have had a negative impact on productivity. This article explores relevant international legal instruments that can enable faster research and development of COVID-19 vaccines in LMICs, focusing on the role of biosafety standards, biological materials transfer, and key knowledge sharing. Our analysis has established that the potential of existing global health legal instruments has yet to be realized in order to close the productivity gap in LMICs and strengthen their vaccine manufacturing capacity. Additionally, mutual recognition of vaccine efficacy has become a new challenge for achieving global vaccination targets. We argue that the World Health Organization should continue its leading position by developing a more practical and targeted framework to help LMICs overcome challenges arising from technology transfer, knowledge sharing, and politics.

The Israeli Experience with the "Green Pass" Policy Highlights Issues to Be Considered by Policymakers in Other Countries.

In the first half of 2021, Israel had been ahead of other countries concerning the speed of its rollout and coverage of COVID-19 vaccinations. During that time, Israel had implemented a vaccine certificate policy, the "Green Pass Policy" (GPP), to reduce virus spread and to allow the safe relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in a time of great uncertainty. Based on an analysis of GPP regulations and public statements compiled from the Israeli Ministry of Health website, we describe the design and implementation of the GPP. We also look back and discuss lessons learned for countries that are considering a GPP policy, given the current upsurge of the Delta variant as of summer 2021. To reduce equity concerns when introducing a GPP, all population groups should be eligible for the vaccine (contingent on approval from the manufacturer) and have access to it. Alternatively, health authorities can grant temporary certificates based on a negative test. We also highlight the fact that in practice, there will be gaps between the GPP regulations and implementation. While some places might require a GPP without legal need, others will not implement it despite a legal obligation. The GPP regulations should have standardised epidemiological criteria, be implemented gradually, remain flexible, and change according to the epidemiological risks.

A scoping review of global vaccine certificate solutions for COVID-19.

Globally, measures, such as lockdown, quarantining, and physical distancing, have been implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. As the vaccines are now available and reintegration into society is beginning, measures such as vaccine certificates are being implemented around the world. We conducted a scoping review to identify the initial digital solutions for COVID-19 vaccine certificates and evaluate them on the basis of purpose and use case, technological architecture, and ethical and legal implications. Articles identified from a Google search and a search of MEDLINE, Ovid and preprint servers were reviewed in duplicate, and data were extracted using a data extraction form. Data were extracted for date, location, type of article, source, companies identified for creating vaccine certificates, technology used, type of evidence provided (article quoting research study or an expert opinion), digital architecture, security and privacy measures, and use cases. Technology emerged as the most dominant theme followed by ethics, travel, legal concerns, public policy, and scientific concerns. Our review identified eight solutions that are working toward COVID-19 vaccine certificates world-wide, all optimizing blockchain technology. COVID-19 vaccine certificates are being considered in 11 countries and are in place in 5 others. Many issues concerning the themes we identified remain to be addressed to facilitate successful implementation.

Vaccine certificate during domestic traveling: a potential initiative to prevent COVID-19 waves in India.

India, the second-most populous country in the world, is struggling with the second wave of the COVID-19 triggered by SARS-CoV-2. This letter aims to highlight the necessity of the vaccine certificate during nationwide traveling to prevent further waves of the COVID-19 in the different states of India. Such policies have already been in existence for international travel termed as vaccine passports. The compulsory vaccine certificates need to be in existence to prevent the rapid spread of the COVID-19 as well as the future waves of this pandemic in India. There is an urgent need forStandard Operating Procedure (SOP) on preventive measures to control the spread of COVID-19 nationwide by including the vaccine certificate for domestic travel between the cities and states.