The Biden administration looks to bring ‘vaccine passports’ to the US

Most people these days are resigned to the fact that convenience with technology relies heavily on giving up some of our data. But when it comes to the introduction of a revolutionary new nationwide system, we expect to know exactly how everything will work. Flippant reassurances simply aren’t enough.

With the private data of 300 million people potentially lingering on a single record, we’ve yet to hear how the government means to protect it from those who will no doubt try to exploit the system for personal gain. Reportedly, more than 17 agencies are working on separate vaccine passport apps too, which only complicates the streamlining process.

We’re not entirely sure whether certain platforms will have a stronger jurisdiction state to state, and beyond that country to country. The WHO is said to be working on its own worldwide program, while several EU nations devise their own iterations. Those with frequent flyer miles could feasibly end up with their data scattered in databases across the globe after one travelling holiday. Madness, if you ask me.

Naturally, the mind then wonders to potential pitfalls with equity. In the UK at the moment, a similar program – track and trace – which aimed to notify people potentially exposed to the virus when out and about, is being panned as a complete waste of billions of tax payers’ earnings.

Little evidence (if any) exists to show the program’s success in doing what it was designed for: stemming the spread of the virus.

Regarding said virus, there continues to be a range of unanswered questions too. We don’t know for certain how long immunity is said to last, to what extent vaccines reduce transmission – or by how much. It’s also yet to be fully established whether all of these factors vary between the four main vaccines in circulation.

More to the point, are we set to exile all those who actively choose not to be vaccinated from modern living for the next few years? See… I told you, simple it is not.

Considering all the aspects we’ve mentioned here, and our current status in terms of fully understanding a virus that has terrorised the planet for over a year, you’d have to say introducing digital admission apps now could turn into a bureaucratic mess.

Over to you again Mr Biden. Some tangible details would be much appreciated.