The World Health Organization (WHO) today partnered with the European Commission to extend the European Union (EU) digital covid-19 certificate to the entire world, foreseeing future uses, such as a 'yellow' bulletin of digitalized vaccines.
In a note released today in Brussels, the community executive reports on a “historic partnership in the field of digital health” with the WHO, given that the organization will adopt the EU digital certificate for covid-19, in force for about two years. .
The idea is to "establish a global system that will help facilitate global mobility and protect citizens around the world against current and future health threats", adds the institution.
This is the first element of the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network, which will develop digital products for all.
This global network of digital health certification is based “on open principles and technologies of the EU digital certificate for covid-19”, for a “convergence of digital certificates” and the “establishment of standards and validation of digital signatures for prevent fraud”.
“This partnership will work towards technically developing the WHO system with a phased approach to cover additional use cases, which may include, for example, the digitization of the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis”, points out the European Commission in the press release. , referring to a future electronic vaccine bulletin (the so-called 'yellow bulletin'), recognized in different locations.
The first element of the WHO global system should be “operational in June 2023”, being progressively developed in the coming months, concludes Brussels.
The European Commission and WHO “will work together to encourage maximum acceptance and participation worldwide”, with “special attention being paid to equitable participation opportunities for those most in need, low- and middle-income countries”.
The certificate, which proves testing (negative), vaccination or recovery from the SARS-CoV-2 virus, entered into force in the Union in early July 2021.
In 2022, EU Member States agreed that people with a valid Covid-19 Certificate, such as vaccinated or recovered, should be excluded from additional restrictions on free movement, such as tests or quarantines, to facilitate travel within the community space.
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