QR codes for health passports can facilitate an effective vaccination drive, maintain vaccine inventory, generate test reports and vaccination status for a world dealing with a pandemic. 

Regardless of where they stand on development measures, countries worldwide have been adversely affected in the wake of COVID-19. While the first half of 2020 witnessed various governments dealing with essential services like food and security, much anticipation revolved around developing a permanent solution – the vaccine. 

Now, we have the vaccine, but executing the vaccination drive is way more challenging. The key is centralizing the supply with real-time inventory updates, vaccine status, patient record, and movement. 

But how can this be achieved? 

Application of Vaccination QR Codes for Health Passports

• QR Codes on vaccination vials can help verify authenticity or brand and track the supply chain and inventory. According to WHO guidelines, the secondary packaging of vaccine vials must have electronic information scanned through a QR code of the label and other information not printed on the packaging. This may include the date of manufacturing and expiry, batch number, and temperature requirement. Incorporating training and warehousing details in the QR code would also help ease the manual labor requirement.
• Government authorities or individuals can print health QR codes on vital documents like passports and other passes. It can help to ensure that the person traveling has been vaccinated and is free from the Coronavirus.

• A centralized website and mobile application can gather data from authorities and citizens regarding vaccines and their covid status.

• The QR code on health passports could also act as a vaccine information system for other vaccinations as some countries do not issue identification until adulthood. In such cases, the health passport can be linked with birth certificates. And also the information about other vaccines under the Universal Immunisation Programme administered to infants like BCG, OPV, Hepatitis, Measles.  

Chimp recommends an ideal scenario 

Each country has a unique identification process for its citizens. For instance, the US has a social security number, the UK National Insurance Number, and India an Aadhaar number. Let’s imagine that each citizen has a unique QR code associated with their ID on the health passport. An integrated website and mobile application portals can track the citizens’ COVID-19 and vaccination status. These portals incorporate data from hospitals and test laboratories to update if citizens have tested positive and their vaccination status.

Now, most countries are rolling out vaccines in order of age and prioritizing comorbid patients. So a citizen’s QR code can hold basic details like name, age, identity number, gender, covid vaccine status. Additionally, it can also carry medical histories like recent surgeries or conditions.

By scanning the person’s QR code, the authorities can know if they have ever tested positive. Moreover, it can also tell if they have been hospitalized and vaccinated and how healthcare should prioritize them for vaccination. The citizens do their KYC with relevant reports and prescriptions to back the information provided. QR codes on heath passports can help airlines, public spaces, healthcare centers, and other authorities to determine whether they should allow person entry/travel or not.

Why can QR codes enable a more effective vaccination drive?

• • Government authorities can use QR codes to verify the authenticity of vaccine vials and scale-up traceability while maintaining international standard regulations. 
  • It is an affordable way of gathering vital information like supply and registration as no additional device is required for a QR code scan. 
  • The information offered at the QR code scan is a brilliant way to educate front-line workers about identification, sterilization, regulations, batch number, and precautions.