According to USA Today, New York State has released the first digital COVID-19 vaccination passport, called the Excelsior Pass, which residents can use as proof that they have received the vaccine or have recently tested negative. The passport will be available either electronically via Android and iOS or in print format with a QR code.
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The first to adopt the passport method is Madison Square Garden in New York, starting this week, with Albany's Times Union Center one of the next. Smaller venues, such as meeting rooms, will begin using the vaccination passport starting April 2.
State officials emphasize that Excelsior Pass is strictly voluntary for both businesses and the general public. They added that the IBM-backed apps do not store or track private health data and that a combination of encryption and hashing enhances data security as well as ensuring that the information is verifiable.
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Of course, there will be technical challenges, such as ensuring consistent use of the passport across venues and ensuring it is recognized in all states or countries. While a phone is not necessarily required, QR codes could be an issue for some people if they don't have access to a computer with a printer. There's also no direct link between tickets and passports, so you can't automatically prove you've been vaccinated when purchasing seats.
However, the ethical issues are bigger. No matter how safe and reliable the Excelsior Pass may be, some people already consider it risky to use a vaccination passport app, which contains medical data, just to attend an event. And while passports are theoretically optional, they may become mandatory if you want to participate in key aspects of public life as long as COVID-19 remains a threat.
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On the other hand, proponents say these passports could simply save businesses that would otherwise have to limit capacity or remain closed.
