The Good Health Pass Collaborative is an open, inclusive, cross-sector initiative, bringing together leading companies and organizations from the technology, health, and travel sectors. Our members are creating a blueprint for interoperable digital health pass systems and building a safe path to restore international travel and restart the global economy.
By now, we’re no strangers to the plethora of news that’s frequently coming out regarding digital health passes (also called Covid vaccine passes). In 2020 I’ve reported on the Covi-Pass, Health Passport Ireland, and the increasingly “popular” CommonPass – that to me – seems to be popping up everywhere.
As we’ve seen over the past several months, this has quickly evolved from a hotly discussed idea to a system that is now being implemented at various airlines and may soon be used for local businesses and places of work. The “Good Health Pass” Collaborative is just another initiative similar to the “Vaccination Credential Initiative” which I’ve discussed about earlier.
What caught my attention regarding this one however was the appearance of The Commons Project Foundation – which created the CommonPass – as a partner. I’ve stressed in the past that this digital health passport is the joint effort of the World Economic Forum as well as the Rockefeller Foundation. It’s this same Commons Project Foundation that’s also a part of the Vaccination Credential Initiative I mentioned earlier.
But that isn’t the only connection worth noting. ID2020 and Mastercard are partners in this collaborative effort, both being initiatives (and a company) that I’ve brought attention to in the past. ID2020 being another collaborative initiative which aims to give everyone on earth a digital ID, with Mastercard echoing the same sentiment as they strive towards a universal identification system.
The question on our minds now may be “where’s this headed?” A UK-based human rights has raised the alarm that this may lead to a “Global Identity Document”, which since then, is already being called for by the likes of Tony Blair Institute for Global Change for example.
I’ve noted in previous articles that this type of technology and system may very well be a precursor to the mark of the beast system spoken about in Revelation 13:16-17 that comes out during the tribulation period, or that it may be one of many steps that is setting the stage for this to be fully realized.
However, I’m also quick to make it clear that I do not believe the coronavirus vaccine or this digital health passport technology is the mark of the beast, as it comes out during the tribulation. Regardless, this is something worth keeping our eyes on as it gets closer and closer to home.
Good Health Pass Collaborative
From The Good Health Pass Collaborative: Governments around the world have adopted various restrictions on mobility and public gatherings to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. While necessary and appropriate to protect public health, the economic consequences – especially on travel and tourism industries – have been staggering.
The largest immunization campaign in history is underway. But the rollout to date has been slow and unequal. With many countries still unable to procure vaccines, it will take years to vaccinate the world’s 7.9 billion people. This underscores the importance of continued, widespread testing as an essential public health tool that must continue alongside vaccination to ensure an equitable return to
public life.
Recent COVID test results are already required at some airports and international borders. And, faced with competing demands to restore mobility and economic activity and protect public health, governments, employers, educational institutions, airlines, sports and event venues, and others are considering proof of a recent
negative test or vaccination as a condition of access.
Existing paper-based credentials (e.g., the “yellow card,” the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 vaccination certificates, and COVID test results from labs) are easy to lose, unnecessarily expose sensitive personal information, and are prone to fraud and counterfeiting – particularly when the stakes are so high.
By contrast, digital health credentials can be printed or stored on an individual’s mobile phone, enhance user privacy, and “bind” an individual’s identity to a test result or vaccination certificate to enable real-time fraud-resistant digital verification.
Because numerous companies around the world are racing to market with digital health credential solutions, it is unlikely that one solution will be implemented globally. Thus, it is vitally important that solutions are designed for interoperability – both with one another and across institutional and geographic borders.
This can only be achieved through a set of open standards to which all digital health pass systems must adhere. Failing to address interoperability could undermine acceptance, adoption, and ultimately, the utility of digital health passes. Read More