Immunity passport

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An Italian health pass (fede di sanita) for travel during times of plague, 1611 Italian health pass 1611.jpg
An Italian health pass (fede di sanità) for travel during times of plague, 1611

An immunity passport, [1] immunity certificate, [2] health pass or release certificate [3] (among other names used by various local authorities) is a document, whether in paper or digital format, attesting that its bearer has a degree of immunity to a contagious disease. [4] Public certification is an action that governments can take to mitigate an epidemic. [5]

Contents

When it takes into account natural immunity or very recent negative test results, an immunity passport cannot be reduced to a vaccination record or vaccination certificate that proves someone has received certain vaccines verified by the medical records of the clinic where the vaccines were given., [6] such as the Carte Jaune ("yellow card") issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), which works as an official vaccination record.

The concept of immunity passports received much attention during the COVID-19 pandemic as a potential way to contain the pandemic and permit faster economic recovery. [7] Reliable serological testing for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 virus is done to certify people as relatively immune to COVID-19 and issue immunity documentation. [8]

History

Sample of a certificate, which should, among other things, demonstrate immunity to yellow fever caused by illness. It was used for immigration to the United States in the late 19th century. Health and Acclimation Certificate (cropped).gif
Sample of a certificate, which should, among other things, demonstrate immunity to yellow fever caused by illness. It was used for immigration to the United States in the late 19th century.

Quarantine has been used since ancient times as a method of limiting the spread of infectious disease. Consequently, there has also been a need for documents attesting that a person has completed quarantine or is otherwise known not to be infectious. One of the oldest known immunity passports, issued in 1578 in Venice, was found by Jacek Partyka, [10] and since the 1600s, various Italian states issued fedi di sanità to exempt their bearers from quarantine. [11]

The International Certificate of Vaccination (Carte Jaune) is a certificate of vaccination and prophylaxis, not immunity. The document has remained largely unchanged since it was adopted by the International Sanitary Convention of 1944. [12] The certificate is most commonly associated with Yellow Fever, but it is also used to track vaccination against other illnesses.[ citation needed ]

Modern definition

An immunity certificate is a legal document issued by a testing authority following a serology test demonstrating that the bearer has antibodies making them relatively immune to a disease.[ citation needed ]

These antibodies can either be produced naturally by recovering from the disease, or triggered through vaccination or another medical procedure.[ citation needed ]

Reliable immunity certificates can be used to exempt holders from quarantine and social distancing restrictions, permitting them to travel and work in most areas, including high-risk occupations such as medical care.

In the COVID-19 context, it has been argued that such certificates are of practical use to society only if all of the following conditions can be satisfied: [13] [14] [15] [16]

However, some long-standing vaccines recommended by the World Health Organization, such as Meningococcal vaccine, are less than 100% effective and their protection is not everlasting. [17]

COVID-19

EU Digital COVID Certificate EU Digital COVID Certificat - mobile.jpg
EU Digital COVID Certificate

In 2021, as COVID-19 vaccines became more publicly accessible, some governments began to authorize health credentials either as a document or in a digital form. These "vaccine passports" are used to control public access to indoor venues (like bars, restaurants, spas, and casinos) and very large gatherings (like concerts, festivals, and sporting events) and not just to facilitate travel. Depending upon the requirements of the issuing authority, an applicant would need to provide either proof of vaccination(s), a negative COVID-19 test, proof of a recovery from the virus, or some combination of these. [18] Their usage and implementation has been controversial and has raised various scientific, medical, ethical, legal, discrimination, privacy, civil rights, and human rights concerns. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaccine</span> Pathogen-derived preparation that provides acquired immunity to an infectious disease

A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious or malignant disease. The safety and effectiveness of vaccines has been widely studied and verified. A vaccine typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins, or one of its surface proteins. The agent stimulates the body's immune system to recognize the agent as a threat, destroy it, and recognize further and destroy any of the microorganisms associated with that agent that it may encounter in the future.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seroconversion</span> Development of specific antibodies in the blood serum as a result of infection or immunization

In immunology, seroconversion is the development of specific antibodies in the blood serum as a result of infection or immunization, including vaccination. During infection or immunization, antigens enter the blood, and the immune system begins to produce antibodies in response. Before seroconversion, the antigen itself may or may not be detectable, but the antibody is absent. During seroconversion, the antibody is present but not yet detectable. After seroconversion, the antibody is detectable by standard techniques and remains detectable unless the individual seroreverts, in a phenomenon called seroreversion, or loss of antibody detectability, which can occur due to weakening of the immune system or decreasing antibody concentrations over time. Seroconversion refers the production of specific antibodies against specific antigens, meaning that a single infection could cause multiple waves of seroconversion against different antigens. Similarly, a single antigen could cause multiple waves of seroconversion with different classes of antibodies. For example, most antigens prompt seroconversion for the IgM class of antibodies first, and subsequently the IgG class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meningococcal disease</span> Often life-threatening bacterial infection

Meningococcal disease describes infections caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. It has a high mortality rate if untreated but is vaccine-preventable. While best known as a cause of meningitis, it can also result in sepsis, which is an even more damaging and dangerous condition. Meningitis and meningococcemia are major causes of illness, death, and disability in both developed and under-developed countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis</span> International certificate of vaccination

The International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), also known as the Carte Jaune or Yellow Card, is an official vaccination report created by the World Health Organization (WHO). As a travel document, it is a kind of medical passport that is recognised internationally and may be required for entry to certain countries where there are increased health risks for travellers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immunization during pregnancy</span>

Immunization during pregnancy is the administration of a vaccine to a pregnant individual. This may be done either to protect the individual from disease or to induce an antibody response, such that the antibodies cross the placenta and provide passive immunity to the infant after birth. In many countries, including the US, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, vaccination against influenza, COVID-19 and whooping cough is routinely offered during pregnancy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hib vaccine</span> Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine

The Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine, also known as Hib vaccine, is a vaccine used to prevent Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) infection. In countries that include it as a routine vaccine, rates of severe Hib infections have decreased more than 90%. It has therefore resulted in a decrease in the rate of meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis.

NmVac4-A/C/Y/W-135 is the commercial name for a polysaccharide vaccine that protects against meningococcal meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis, specifically the serotypes A, C, Y, and W-135. This vaccine is part of a broader group of meningococcal vaccines. It is especially formulated for use in developing countries, aimed at protecting populations during meningitis outbreaks, particularly in high-risk regions like the African meningitis belt.

Meningococcal vaccine refers to any vaccine used to prevent infection by Neisseria meningitidis. Different versions are effective against some or all of the following types of meningococcus: A, B, C, W-135, and Y. The vaccines are between 85 and 100% effective for at least two years. They result in a decrease in meningitis and sepsis among populations where they are widely used. They are given either by injection into a muscle or just under the skin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 vaccine</span> Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2

A COVID‑19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19).

Helen Aspasia Petousis-Harris is a New Zealand vaccinologist and associate professor in the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University of Auckland. She has been involved in research related to vaccination in New Zealand since 1998, with her main areas of focus being vaccine safety and effectiveness. Petousis-Harris has had a variety of lead roles in New Zealand and international organisations that focus on vaccination and is a regular media spokesperson in this field, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vaccination requirements for international travel are the aspect of vaccination policy that concerns the movement of people across borders. Countries around the world require travellers departing to other countries, or arriving from other countries, to be vaccinated against certain infectious diseases in order to prevent epidemics. At border checks, these travellers are required to show proof of vaccination against specific diseases; the most widely used vaccination record is the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis. Some countries require information about a passenger's vaccination status in a passenger locator form.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glossary of the COVID-19 pandemic</span>

The COVID-19 pandemic has created and popularized many terms relating to disease and videoconferencing.

The following is a timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland during 2021. There are significant differences in the legislation and the reporting between the countries of the UK: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Kulldorff</span> Former professor of medicine, biostatistician

Martin Kulldorff is a Swedish biostatistician. He was a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School from 2003 until his dismissal in 2024. He is a member of the US Food and Drug Administration's Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee and a former member of the Vaccine Safety Subgroup of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EpiVacCorona</span> EpiVacCorona vaccine against COVID-19

EpiVacCorona is a peptide-based vaccine against COVID-19 developed by the Russian VECTOR Center of Virology. The lack of protective effectiveness of EpiVacCorona, which is still in use in Russia, has been reported in scientific literature and in the media. The vaccine consists of three chemically synthesized peptides that are conjugated to a large carrier protein. This protein is a fusion product of a viral nucleocapsid protein and a bacterial MBP protein. A phase III clinical trial to show whether or not the vaccine can protect people against COVID-19 was launched in November 2020 with more than three thousand participants. The conclusions and results of the trial have not been made public.

Trials to assess the effectiveness of an immunity passport scheme, also known as a COVID passport or COVID certification scheme, were confirmed by the UK government on 3 April 2021 as a way of helping to restart public events in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement was made following much discussion and speculation about the idea by politicians and in the British media. The government announced that trials of a scheme for England would begin on 16 April, starting with a comedy evening in Liverpool.

Software for COVID-19 pandemic mitigation takes many forms. It includes mobile apps for contact tracing and notifications about infection risks, vaccine passports, software for enabling – or improving the effectiveness of – lockdowns and social distancing, Web software for the creation of related information services, and research and development software. A common issue is that few apps interoperate, reducing their effectiveness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 vaccine card</span> Medical record for COVID-19 vaccination

A COVID-19 vaccine card is a record often given to those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine showing information such as the date(s) one has received the shot(s) and the brand of vaccine one has received, sometimes including the lot number. The card also contains information identifying the recipient and the location where the shot was given. Depending on the country, it could serve as an official document verifying one has received vaccination, which could be required by some institutions, such as a school or workplace, when boarding a cruise ship, or when crossing an international border, as proof that one has been vaccinated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaccine passports during the COVID-19 pandemic</span> Use of immunity passports for COVID-19 vaccination

A vaccine passport or proof of vaccination is an immunity passport employed as a credential in countries and jurisdictions as part of efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic via vaccination. A vaccine passport is typically issued by a government or health authority, and usually consists of a digital or printed record. Some credentials may include a scannable QR code, which can also be provisioned via mobile app. It may or may not use a COVID-19 vaccine card as a basis of authentication.

Vaccine passport may refer to:

References

  1. ↑ Edmond C (19 June 2020). "COVID-19: What are immunity passports and how would they work?". World Economic Forum.
  2. ↑ Smith-Spark L (3 April 2020). "Is this how to get out of lockdown?". Chicago Sun-Times.
  3. ↑ "Explained: Are immunity passports, release certificates the way to go?". indianexpress.com. 10 May 2020.
  4. ↑ ""Immunity passports" in the context of COVID-19". World Health Organization. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  5. ↑ Manjikian M (24 February 2016). Threat Talk: The Comparative Politics of Internet Addiction. Routledge. p. 131. ISBN   978-1-317-01027-2.
  6. ↑ "Locating and Tracking Adult Vaccine Records". www.cdc.gov. 17 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Chotani RA, Ashraf SS, Mize C, Clark T (30 April 2020). "'Immunity passport' key to containing spread of coronavirus". UPI. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  8. ↑ Voo TC, Reis AA, Thomé B, Ho CW, Tam CC, Kelly-Cirino C, et al. (February 2021). "Immunity certification for COVID-19: ethical considerations". Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 99 (2): 155–161. doi:10.2471/blt.20.280701 (inactive 5 December 2024). PMC   7856365 . PMID   33551509.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of December 2024 (link)
  9. ↑ Olivarius K (2 April 2019). "Immunity, Capital, and Power in Antebellum New Orleans". The American Historical Review. 124 (2). American Historical Association: 440, footnote 88. doi: 10.1093/ahr/rhz176 . Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "Stare druki - Blog Biblioteki Jagiellońskiej - Uniwersytet Jagielloński". blog.bj.uj.edu.pl. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  11. ↑ "Fedi' di Sanita Archivi". 30 October 2023.
  12. ↑ International Sanitary Convention of 1944, Modifying Convention of June 21, 1926: Message from the President of the United States Transmitting a Certified Copy of the International Sanitary Convention of 1944, Modifying the International Sanitary Convention of June 21, 1926, which was Signed for the United States of America at Washington on January 5, 1945. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1945.
  13. ↑ Altmann DM, Douek DC, Boyton RJ (May 2020). "What policy makers need to know about COVID-19 protective immunity". Lancet. 395 (10236): 1527–1529. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30985-5. PMC   7185915 . PMID   32353328.
  14. ↑ Cyranoski D (May 2020). "Profile of a killer: the complex biology powering the coronavirus pandemic". Nature. 581 (7806): 22–26. Bibcode:2020Natur.581...22C. doi:10.1038/d41586-020-01315-7. PMID   32367025. S2CID   256823069.
  15. ↑ Hall MA, Studdert DM (June 2020). "Privileges and Immunity Certification During the COVID-19 Pandemic". JAMA. 323 (22): 2243–2244. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.7712 . PMID   32374358. S2CID   218520529.
  16. ↑ Hall MA, Studdert DM (March 2021). ""Vaccine Passport" Certification - Policy and Ethical Considerations". The New England Journal of Medicine. 385 (11): e32. doi: 10.1056/NEJMp2104289 . PMID   33789006.
  17. ↑ World Health Organization (November 2011). "Meningococcal vaccines : WHO position paper, November 2011". Wkly. Epidemiol. Rec. 86 (47): 521–540. hdl:10665/241846. PMID   22128384.
  18. ↑ "FAQ: What Is A Vaccine 'Passport,' And What Are These Credentials Used For?". Nevada Public Radio. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  19. ↑ "What to know about COVID-19 vaccine 'passports' and why they're controversial". ABC News .
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