Microsoft has partnered with Oracle, Salesforce, and other health and tech companies to work together on a Vaccination Credential Initiative (VCI) to enable people to access COVID-19 vaccination records on their smartphones. The digital passwords will make it easier for users to demonstrate their vaccination status for travel work and other activities.
The digital “Health Wallet” app will leverage the power of the SMART Health Cards framework, a healthcare system designed to give practitioners and pharmacists secure access to patients’ medical records. Thanks to this, users will be able to manage and access a copy of their immunization records via Digital wallet apps, including Google Pay or Apple Wallet.
However, people who don’t own a smartphone will have an option to get a printed copy of their record with QR codes containing verifiable credentials. Moreover, VCI plans to develop new techniques to automatically determine if a person has not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
“As the world begins to recover from the pandemic, having electronic access to vaccination, testing, and other medical records will be vital to resuming travel and more,” said Mike Sicilia, executive vice president of Oracle’s Global Business Units. “This process needs to be as easy as online banking. We are committed to working collectively with the technology and medical communities, as well as global governments, to ensure people will have secure access to this information where and when they need it.”
While several countries worldwide have launched their COVID-19 vaccination programs, this initiative could prove to be a crucial step towards lifting travel restrictions. These digital passports can be used by individuals for boarding airplanes and enter school, work, live concerts, and grocery stores. It could also reduce the challenges faced by governments in accessing, managing, and sharing verifiable vaccination records of citizens.
