This morning, California became the first state in the USA to launch a digital vaccine passport. The passport system is intended for Californians to use in order to prove that they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19. Users can access the system at https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/. Officially, the system is called a vaccine verification system, and the governor has shied away from the term "passport", but the system's features and suggested uses make it very passport-like.
According to an FAQ on the Digital Covid-19 Vaccine Record website, “The Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record portal draws COVID-19 records from California’s immunization systems.” Vaccinated Californians can enter the cellphone number or email address they provided when they received the vaccine, and the system will check for an entry in the State’s records. Users also enter a unique PIN number in order to access the documents securely in the future.
If the entered information matches with a vaccine record in the State’s database, the user receives an email or text message providing a link to the system. Upon entering their pin, they are able to download a QR code which provides details on their vaccination status, including the date of each of their vaccinations, their name and birthday, and the manufacturer of the vaccine they received.
The system is voluntary, and the FAQ says that “Only you can decide how and if you want to share your record with others.” The system does provide some information on potential uses of the digital vaccine passport. Firstly, the FAQ suggests that users “take a screenshot of your vaccine record to store on your mobile device, save the QR code to your device’s camera roll, or print a copy of the record and store in a safe place.”
The QR code is in a special format called a SMART Health Card, which can be read by standards-compliant devices. According to the FAQ, “If you are at a venue that can read SMART Health Cards, present your copy of your digital vaccine record for scanning.” That’s a big deal — the record amounts to a passport, because it can be shown at participating venues (at a conference, concert or even a restaurant, for example) in order to prove an individual's vaccine status.
How does the digital passport differ from the paper passports provided at most vaccination sites? For one thing, paper passports could always be forged or altered to show a false vaccination status. Because the digital vaccine passport links back to the State’s systems, it provides a hard-to-fake proof of a user’s status.
Of course, no system is foolproof. A user could potentially copy a vaccinated person’s QR code, and then use the code to falsely verify their status at an event or venue. If they were not asked to show ID — or they had the same name as the person who had actually been vaccinated — they might be able to pass for vaccinated even if they weren’t. There are also major privacy concerns with a centralized database providing sensitive medical information. Many users may not have been aware of the database’s existence when they signed up for a vaccine.
The digital passport, however, may assist tremendously with the State’s recent reopening. On June 15th, California removed masking and social distancing requirements for vaccinated individuals. The new system provides a potential way to prove vaccine status and ensure that an individual can safely remove their mask or forego other protective measures.