As more and more vaccines for COVID-19 are being distributed across the country, there are companies that are trying to capitalize on it by creating digital COVID-19 vaccine proof that allows people who have been immunized to store that information related to their vaccine status on their smart phones, or in other varieties. The idea is to allow for easy access to prove you’ve received the shot if it’s required to board an airplane, go back to school or attend big events like professional or sports games, concerts and conventions.
CNBC is reporting that people who are vaccinated at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles receive handwritten details that they received the vaccine on a CDC card. It shows when the vaccination occurred, and which type was used.
That is nothing new with the CDC however, they’ve been providing proof on paper cards since the 1880’s. The big change now is it is going digital. In L.A. County patients can receive text messages with a link to the same info as the paper card. The patients also get a second text as a reminder for when it’s time to get their second dose.
On those text messages is a link for the patient to all all that data from the county to their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
Having the digital information is great, but currently there is no plan nationally, or internationally in place that has any infrastructure set up to easily accept that digital info.
For now, the digital wallet passes used in Los Angeles are just modern versions of the paper certificates, but with innovation of any kind, look for things to happen fast. The Commons Project is working on developing a passport app that airlines may use in the future. The Commons Project is working with giants in the tech and health field to develop new standards.
There’s big money in this new industry too. One estimate showed health record technology hit $31.5 billion in 2018 and is growing at 6% each year.
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