EU to Introduce Digital Vaccine Passports on June 15

European commissioner and businessman Thierry Breton presented France with the European Union’s brand-new “Digital Green Certificate” — or “sanitary certificate,” as he called it — during the national radio show “Grand Jury RTL-Le Figaro-LCI,” on Sunday morning. The digital pass has been approved by the 27 EU member states, he said (although no trace of formal voting or approval is currently available on EU websites), and will be released on June 15.

In his capacity as EU Commissioner for Internal Market, Thierry Breton is also in charge of the super-state’s vaccine policy and the reopening of travel in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

During the show, Breton said that Europe will have “collective immunity capacity” by July 14, a remarkable prediction given that the vaccine “roll-out” — whatever one’s opinion on the moral acceptability, efficacy, and dangers of the various EU-approved vaccines — is faced with so many obstacles that many member countries cannot seriously hope that all people wanting the jab will have received it by then. Besides, the general message being broadcast by health officials is that vaccination does not necessarily prevent contagion, that it already doesn’t work against some variants of SARS-CoV-2, and that some can take up to two months or longer before offering full protection, according to their own disclosures.

Breton said the vaccination campaign needed to be stepped up and that vaccine imports would be accelerated in the 27 member states to reach 420 doses administrated in three and a half months.

“From the moment when we can be sure that every European who wants to get the jab has equitable access to the vaccine, as will be the case within two or three months, it will be good to have a sanitary certificate that demonstrates your condition,” said Breton.

Either in digital form for smartphones, or printed out, the passport will include a scannable QR code including the bearer’s name, date of birth, and passport number, as well as the date of vaccination, the vaccine’s type (only EU-approved vaccines will be allowed), status regarding a former infection with COVID-19, and the presence or absence of antibodies.

People who have not received the vaccine and who have not had COVID-19 will have their PCR test status on their certificate, said Breton. “If you don’t want a test, you won’t get one,” he added.

The paper draft of the certificate, titled “Proof of vaccination for medical purposes,” includes a line listing “Adm. gender,” and gives a wink to Tolkien by filling in the “country” line with the words “Middle Earth.” Read Full Article >