China Launches Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Passport For International Travel

Illustration. (Unsplash / Chuttersnap)

JAKARTA - Chinese authorities have launched a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate for its citizens planning cross-border travel, joining other countries that issue documents known also as vaccine passports.

"The certificate issued by China will have details about the holder's COVID-19 vaccination information and the coronavirus test results", said the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of Consular Affairs said on its website.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday, the goal of the certificate is to achieve verification of joint information, such as nucleic acid testing and vaccinations. And contribute to safe and orderly interactions of people.

It has not yet been made clear which country China is speaking to for COVID-19 vaccine passport recognition.

China also has not announced an easing of quarantine restrictions for foreigners arriving in China even though they have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

"Existing quarantine requirements must remain in place for people arriving in China, as it is possible that vaccinated people could still be infected by the virus", a spokesman for China's National Health Commission said in February.

The global launch of the COVID-19 vaccination, prompting many countries to immediately open their borders, to restore economic activity that was halted during border closures. This includes the European Union which plans to launch a digital vaccine passport.

Meanwhile, World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Chief Dr. Michael Ryan said, what was said to be a passport for the COVID-19 vaccine was not used as a travel requirement, because it was worrying.

"Including the consideration that vaccines are not sufficiently available worldwide. The UN health agency does not recommend it at this time", said Ryan as reported by Channel News Asia.