Ethical questions abound in push for immunity passports

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정부, 백신여권 도입 여부 검토 중…해외 여행길 열리나

The COVID-19 vaccines.
It's a welcome development after a year of lockdowns.
Select countries are planning immunity passports... to allow travel again.
But according to our Choi Won-jong, some feel the idea is ethically problematic.
The South Korean health authorities have acknowledged, most recently on Tuesday,... that vaccine passports could be an option.
"It's true that there are immunity passports or vaccine passports for people who have completed their vaccinations. Our country is also reviewing these systems and will decide based on scientific proof and global trends."
Exactly what these passports will look like, no one knows,... but their purpose is to open up international travel.
The idea has strong support among some countries,... especially in the European Union.
"One point which was important at the end was the digital vaccination certificate. Here, everyone agrees that we need one."
She said it would take up to three months to create the technical conditions for a passport in the EU.
The first country to get a system in place was Israel, with its so-called 'green pass,' which has helped reopen restaurants.
And Cyprus is getting ready to launch their vaccine passport... in less than two months... for travelers from Britain, who won't need to get tested or self-quarantine.
In Asia,... such systems are being considered... in tourist destinations like Thailand, Vietnam and China.
Here in South Korea, there's support among those in the travel business, too.
"We have shut down our travel agency for a second year now.
People don't trust these passports, but I have faith in them. I hope travel resumes soon."
The World Health Organization...though...has advised against adopting vaccine passports internationally... because access to vaccines is so limited.
"At the present time, the use of certification of vaccination as a requirement for travel is not advised because, quite simply, vaccination is just not available enough around the world and it is not available certainly on an equitable basis."
The system could also cause serious human rights issues.
"It could possibly start discriminating against certain people who will not able to receive vaccinations and what not. But also,... I believe it's a reality that we are facing. We are also being pushed from foreign associations."
Practically speaking... countries will need to agree on issues like...which vaccines to recognize...how long they're valid...and so on,... which could be a long way off.
Choi Won-jong, Arirang News.

#COVID19 #passport #immunity

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