The list of countries issuing digital vaccination cards continues to grow. In the EU, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and Poland have committed to introducing vaccination certificates. And Iceland is the latest country to join the club. While digitalisation is still being discussed, the German town of Altötting in Bavaria was the first in the country to issue cards with QR codes to vaccinated people.

Aviation lobby gets involved

Spurred by the recent Greek government initiative, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on governments to pave the way flights to resume and it also unveiled a detailed vaccination certificate scheme with a tight roll-out campaign. The tourism industry is somewhat divided on the issue. While the World Tourism Organisation has stressed the need for a coordinated approach to electronic certificates and passports for safe cross-border travel, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has called the passports discriminatory.

EU won't coordinate, cools expectations

The EU still sees vaccination certificates as a medical necessity and does not plan to intervene. European Council President Charles Michel has said the discussion on certificates has come "too early", and suggested it would create unrealistic expectations for passport renewal by summer 2021. During the video conference with European Council members, Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the Commission, added: "Later on, when the time is right we will need a thorough debate and a consensus among Member States on possible other uses of the certificate".

Previously on Liberties

Three Reasons Why A Vaccine Passport For EU Travel Is a Bad Idea