The Intelligence from The Economist You shall not pass: standardising vaccine passports
Oct 25, 2021
Avantika Chilcotty, an international correspondent for The Economist, dives into the chaos of global vaccine passports and the pressing need for standardization to facilitate international travel. Joanna Lillis, covering Uzbekistan, shares insights on President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's political maneuvers and economic reforms since 2016, amidst lingering democratic challenges. The conversation also touches on the exciting entry of The Economist into the NFT space, exploring the complexities of this digital frontier and its implications for the art world.
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WWI Passport Precedent
- During World War I, various governments introduced diverse travel documents for border control, creating a fragmented system.
- The League of Nations, the UN's precursor, stepped in after the armistice to establish global passport standards.
Vaccine Passport Incompatibility
- Vaccine passports lack standardization, causing a patchwork of different systems globally.
- This incompatibility creates administrative burdens, especially at airports, and increases the risk of forgery.
WHO's Vaccine Passport Hesitation
- The WHO has avoided creating a universal vaccine passport due to the complexity and political sensitivity involved.
- Determining acceptable vaccines and addressing certificates from disputed territories are key challenges.