As Hawaii witnessing a huge surge of tourists’ arrival, now it is working towards a vaccination passport for travelers coming in and out of the state in the COVID-19 pandemic, government officials mentioned.
Hawaii’s vaccination passport will likely be in app-form. Whereas the new passports are being developed, travelers can present vaccination cards to show their health status, Lt. Gov. Josh Green suggests.
The state is reportedly aiming to work with Honolulu-based First Vitals to create the app. If applied, fully-vaccinated individuals will present special QR codes, notifying officers of their status, at travel checkpoints. In the meantime, travelers flying through the Aloha state can present a vaccination card that will be screened by airport personnel to ensure authenticity, Green mentioned.
“They would be able to verify the health file, they would then encrypt it so individuals can’t steal someone’s health record. Although really, all it’s is whether you got vaccinated or not and your name and the date it occurred,” Green mentioned.
The news comes as the travel industry continues to grapple with health and safety protocol to curb the spread of the virus. The International Air Transport Association is developing a mobile application, called a “Travel Pass,” that shows coronavirus test results and vaccination proof in an effort to promote safe travel and as an approach for vaccinated individuals to bypass quarantine.
And in Europe, the European Union earlier this month suggested a “Digital Green Certificate” that would show proof of vaccination, negative COVID test results, or proof of recovery from the virus.
The CDC, however, continues to advise all people against non-essential travel and is currently working on updating its guidelines for safe activities of vaccinated people.
So far, Hawaii has reported 30,654 cases of coronavirus and 462 demises, according to Johns Hopkins. The state currently has a testing positivity rate of 2.39.
