International air travel has collapsed during the pandemic as countries imposed restrictions such as quarantines or outright bans to curb the spread of the virus. Why do travel companies want vaccine passports? Denmark expects to launch a pass that will let vaccinated people travel with fewer restrictions.

Israel is using a new “green passport” to ensure that only people who have been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 can attend public events such as concerts. Some countries are getting involved and using the passports beyond air travel. There are several other private-sector initiatives. IBM is developing another, called a Digital Health Pass. The trade group for global airlines, the International Air Transport Association, is testing a version it calls Travel Pass. The Biden administration and others want a paper version available, too.

The information is stored on a phone or other mobile device that the user shows to airline employees and border officers. It is documentation that shows a traveler has been vaccinated against COVID-19 or recently tested negative for the virus that causes the disease. But who will be issuing them? What is a vaccine passport? White House: Vaccine passports should be free, private and secure. 'We got bored and wanted to go on a trip': Tales from a pandemic spring break in Cancun, Mexico Here are some key questions about the health credentials. It is not clear, however, whether any of the passports under development will be accepted broadly around the world, and the result could be confusion among travelers and disappointment for the travel industry. Technology companies and travel-related trade groups are developing and testing various versions of the vaccine passports, also called health certificates or travel passes. Watch Video: The travel industry's big idea they hope gets things back to normalĪirlines and others in the travel industry are throwing their support behind so-called vaccine passports to boost pandemic-depressed travel, and authorities in Europe could embrace the idea quickly enough for the peak summer vacation season.

Vaccine passport travel