Covid vaccine passport: Expats have their say

Written byVeedushi Bissessuron 15 March 2021

To facilitate travel within the European Union, the European Commission is considering the introduction of a Covid passport. But Europeans and expatriates, in particular, have mixed feelings about this proposal. They shared their views with us.

Philippe, a French expatriate in Thailand, doesn't quite grasp the idea of introducing a COVID passport. "To date, all we know is that the Covid vaccine works like the flu vaccine. So vaccinated people become asymptomatic, but that does not mean they cannot transmit the virus! In other words, you can't accept a passenger, assuming that they won't spread the virus just because they are vaccinated. Also, what about people who have antibodies?". For him, it would be more logical to speak of an “immunity passport” first, instead of a “Covid passport”. Philippe believes that being vaccinated doesn't guarantee that you can't transmit the virus. "Since they have been vaccinated, they will feel safe with their Covid passport and, won't necessarily understand that they can still transmit the virus like any other person. Remember that people choose to be vaccinated to protect themselves (as in the case of the flu) but that does not mean that they are protecting the people around them".

Philippe stresses on the current situation in Thailand. In fact, we mentioned it last week in our article “Has Thailand lost its appeal for expatriates?". To revive its tourism industry, Thailand is considering the introduction of the Covid passport once it reopens its borders completely. Holders of a Covid passport, which is a digital document certifying that they got PCR tests done and had their two COVID-19 vaccine doses, won't be quarantined upon their arrival in Thailand. But Philippe qualifies this decision as being absurd. “Regarding PCR tests, results (or any other information such as name or date ...) can be modified easily on the PDF document emailed by the laboratory. In France, moreover, you can get a PCR test done with a false identity as it's the person who is getting tested who fills out the datasheet ”. So it's clear, for him, that knowing the effectiveness of vaccines is crucial before introducing a Covid passport. He adds that it's also important to decide which vaccine will be taken into consideration since there are many, and the efficiency of some of them has been disputed.

Théo, a French expat in the Netherlands, shares Philippe's views. He believes that if the European Commission moves on the introduction of the Covid passport, “only government bodies, medical services, or other bodies such as the customs division or the border police, should be able to access this kind of data. Otherwise, it can be considered as a violation of our rights”. But as we mentioned above, this issue breeds mixed feelings.

Marie, an expat in Tunisia, doesn't see the harm in having a Covid passport. “When I first started travelling, smallpox, cholera, rabies, yellow fever vaccines, etc., were compulsory in certain countries. We were given an international vaccination certificate in the form of a (yellow) passport that we had to present to the airline company and to the border police on our arrival", she says.

Gisèle, who currently lives in Morocco, concedes that this issue is not likely to get unanimity. “Personally, as a regular traveller between two continents, I won't have a choice if the Covid passport becomes compulsory. I'm neither for nor against, but taking into account my travel obligations, I definitely have to take the vaccine and get a Covid passport. But I believe that everyone is free to choose even if opposing the Covid passport can lead to fraud or deprivation of liberty ”. Jean-Luc, an expat in Germany, also supports the Covid passport. "There's no risk since it will be a digital health passport and, therefore, registered. The virus will circulate for a couple of years anyway, so we can get vaccinated every year if need be, as we do with flu," he says.

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How will having a Covid passport help?

While France and Germany believe that it is still early to talk about a Covid passport and that this could prove to be discriminatory against some people, other European countries are seriously considering its implementation. In fact, the United Kingdom, Greece, Cyprus, Sweden and Denmark, are planning to introduce the Covid passport before summer vacation. Several major airlines around the world have also started integrating this concept into their contactless procedures. Interestingly, a couple of non-European countries seem keener on introducing the Covid passport to kickstart their travel and tourism industry.

Last week, Malaysia launched "Immunitee". Initially, this Covid passport will be useful for travellers to Singapore. Its system includes the traveller's health history, namely PCR tests and vaccinations. "Immunitee" has a QR code that can only be scanned by government authorities or other organisations such as healthcare providers, immigration departments, hotels and even universities in the case of international students. In the Middle East, Bahrain is the first country to have successfully launched its Covid passport.

The UK is considering making the Covid passport compulsory even for local travels. The Covid passport could, therefore, be integrated into the current NHS app. With this app installed on their mobile phone, people will thus be able to prove that they had PCR tests done and that they have been vaccinated. However, they might also need to produce their Covid passport even to access bars or stadiums, for example. Still, no decision will be taken until June 21, when the country enters the fourth phase of the unlock plan.

The European Commission has already pledged not to rush into any decision until the majority of European citizens have been vaccinated. While the health passport is expected to make travel formalities smoother in the coming months, the European Commission reassured that Covid passport holders won't be the only ones allowed to travel.

Everyday life

About the author

Veedushi Bissessur

I hold a French diploma and worked as a journalist in Mauritius for six years. I have over a decade of experience as a bilingual web editor at Expat.com, including five years as an editorial assistant. Before joining the Expat.com team, I worked as a journalist/reporter in several Mauritian newsrooms. My experience of over six years in the Mauritian press gave me the opportunity to meet many prominent figures and cover a wide range of events across various topics.

Comments

samramon5 years ago(Modified)
Many people - mostly people who watch Fox News or listened to Rush Limbaugh or Alex Jones - all biased against Science - are acting like this vaccine is horrible. It is saving lives. Scientists recommend it. Doctors not only recommend it but take it. Do you think the whole world of doctors, scientists and nurses etc are getting together in some sort of conspiracy to kill you, or what? LOL. As to the passport I have said I am not for them using it to know everything about you etc. But a passport stating that you've been vaccinated is a good idea. If I were a doctor, dentist etc I would not want to treat people who were not vaccinated. Why risk my life for some anti-science conspiracy theorist who could kill me by carrying the virus or cause me to carry it to someone else who is not vaccinated? If I were a country I would not want to let people in who were not vaccinated. A passport simply stating a person has been vaccinated is a great idea. Again I am NOT for any type of privacy-invasion Draconian "passport" where they collect private data on people. Just vaccination data.

Sharon Reynolds5 years ago(Modified)
You can kill covid with Ivermectin. It says right on I sent in medication box ivetmectin for use for Covid 19. It's been around for years . but Big Pharma is making a billion on pushing this experiment. It's entirely Experimental, and deaths and extreme reactions are being ignored. Doctor have use Hydroxychloroquin with success with Z pack as well. This vaccination program is illegal as a requirement of any business, country, or international agency because experimental drugs cannot be legally demanded according to geneva Conventions finding on German Holocost victims. The Push for vaccines has become a focus of paid off media, to line big pharma pockets. The Catholic critic of The Heretic Pope Warned six months into 2020 that the Push for medical Tyrrany was fully in progress and by Feb.0f '21 the world would be entering into medical Tyrrany.

FrancisBB5 years ago(Modified)
We have already swallowed some bitter pills in order to control this virus. No, the "covid passport" is not a guarantee, but nor are lockdowns and masks. They will just improve the odds. Although they won't be perfect, they have to be part of the way forward, if only to persuade the skeptics that they should get vaccinated. There is now good evidence that the vaccines do lessen transmission: https://www.advisory.com/en/daily-briefing/2021/03/04/vaccine-transmission

LingThiau5 years ago(Modified)
Dear Veedushi, It is interessting how the alleged Expats in your article have a diverse set of opinions, but most of them are pro Covid passport or at least see no harm. The comment section shows a completely different picture with most of the comments condemming the passport as a form of dystopian instrument of taking away privacy and civil liberties. Unfortunatly you failed to mention that - countries who have more or less openly discussed (or already introduced) Covid passports don't only propose to use them for travel, but also for "everyday life" activities like going to the hairdresser, restaurant, the public swimming pool or beach. Maybe your Expats the people you allegedly questioned have not realized the consequence of the passport. Without your two shots per year, your life consists of work and your appartment. And soon it won't be two, but obviously more health hazards will pop up. Have fun.

cybershrink5 years ago(Modified)
It’s irrationally discriminatory and incursive of our right to personal freedom. Introducing it would be a crime against humanity and the end of civilisation as we know it and the beginning of a global dictatorship. If people die for freedom it’s unnatural for them to be bound for health reasons. This is a monstrous idea that should be trashed immediately.

hammermeister5 years ago(Modified)
Soon there will be no aspect of our lives that is private! The vaccine will not end Covid!!

LondonEngland19705 years ago(Modified)
With regards to the proposed Covid Vaccine Passport, this is all a 'knee-jerk reaction'...it all comes down to all Governments, Airline and Travel Insurance around the World making their own individual assessments on just how much money (revenue) they'll 'rake in' annually, in terms of general airline travel and Tourism Industry globally. I can visualize a 'global security loophole threat' in terms of "Cyber Fraud" run by hard-core hackers out there in cyberspace if there is not a 'global database' that's created and securely protected by 256-bit Encryption that makes it impossible for hacker(s) to steal huge amounts of stored data from each person's covid vaccine passport information and to fraudulently amend details making huge annual profits for the hacker(s). Also, there's Human Rights, Ethical, Religious and all other issues to deal with and resolve. Are all these issues actually being considered by all countries whom so wish to implement a possible Covid Vaccine Passport? Not everybody will step forward to take the Covid Vaccine from the Doctor or designated medical centers in the first place?

samramon5 years ago(Modified)
I do not agree with an orwellian type passport that has all your health information and everything about your lifestyle. I did not know that was even being proposed, at least not in the United States. So I am not for that at all. But I am for a card stating that you have been vaccinated, nothing more. In my opinion people who do not take the vaccine are anti-science, and if you can't believe in science then what can you believe in? When you see all the experts, and Health practitioners taking the vaccine, then you know that the people who are more knowledgeable than you about these things are recommending it. People who risk their lives to help other people in hospitals are recommending it. When you take the vaccine you are almost guaranteed you will not end up in a hospital dying from covid-19. That's the main reason to take the vaccine for now. As more and more people take it, we will gain herd immunity and will be able to return to normal lives. On the other hand if people do not take the vaccine, we may never return to normal life without having millions die. I say all this because I believe in science and this is what the scientists are saying.

PMRelocations5 years ago(Modified)
The announcement that the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine has been accepted in the United Kingdom has given people with a ray of hope. The COVID-19 pandemic infected over 82 million people worldwide, killing over 1.8 million people. There is optimism that life will return to normal. The COVID-19 had a negative impact on the global economy and companies. Wearing a mask outside has become the latest standard, and according to news, if you want to fly in 2021, you'll need a vaccine passport. According to CNN, the vaccine passport application is a smartphone app which indicates that you have tested negative/ positive for Coronavirus. It will be a wireless health pass that will grant you access to stadiums, events, concerts, movie theatres, and even entire countries. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that these passports could not be as useful because there is still the possibility of contracting infection for the second time. China is willing to take the lead in establishing requirements for potential travel with "vaccine passports," in part because it believes that opening up and encouraging business travel will help the country's economy. It's also a chance for Chinese officials to promote their country's own vaccines.