ASEAN Encourages Digital Convergence Of Vaccination Passports To Apply Globally

Mekes Budi Gunadi Sadikin delivering a press conference after chairing the 15th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, Saturday (14/5/2022). (ANTARA/Andi Firdaus).

BADUNG - Countries in the ASEAN region took the initiative to encourage the convergence of digital technology for vaccination passports valid globally.

"We will issue a joint statement regarding the adoption of ASEAN countries to health protocol standards. This is the same as what we will achieve at the G20", said Health Minister, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, at a press conference in Nusa Dua, Badung, Bali, as reported by Antara, Saturday, May 14.

The convergence of digital technology for vaccination passports was one of the discussion agendas at the 15th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) with the topic "Mutual Recognition Arrangement on COVID-19 Health Certificates".

Budi, who also serves as the Chair of the ASEAN Health Minister, said that the COVID-19 pandemic had encouraged every country to have various health protocol standards which often made it difficult for cross-country travelers.

Examples include technology-based surveillance standards, such as PeduliLindungi in Indonesia or Trace Together in Singapore. "This initiative is so that the PeduliLindungi or Trace Together applications in Singapore and other countries can interconnect with each other", he said.

Budi explained that the vaccination passport will adopt the foreign travel passport mechanism used by the state immigration authorities to identify the identity of travelers.

"So if we go abroad with passports that can be recognized in all countries, the immigration process is the same, in the future we want the same thing to happen to the health sector. So that we enter and leave the country using the same instrument, namely a passport", he said.

Minister of Health Budi said that the travel business currently needs vaccine certificates from travelers to ensure they are in a healthy and fit condition during their activities.

For this reason, the health sector in the ASEAN region has initiated a digital-based vaccination passport as a standard that can be recognized, recognized, and trusted by all countries.

"If the times are more modern, we will use a QR code that has followed the WHO standard. You can use the application on your cellphone. Care to Protect the vaccination certificate is now digital and there is a QR code. So if you go to Singapore, just scan and enter", he said.

Budi said the convergence of digital technology for vaccination passports has so far been accepted by the European Union and is planned to be applied globally in all countries.

"Hopefully this ASEAN country initiative can converge digital technology for vaccination passports", he said.