Domestic COVID-19 Vaccine Passports: Policy Options to Build Trust and Curtail Inequity

For policy makers considering the implementation of COVID-19 vaccine credentialing programs, the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School and the Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University have developed a road map highlighting key considerations for their ethical design. COVID-19 vaccine credentialing programs or digital health pass programs, commonly referred to as vaccine passports, are a tool U.S. policy makers may use to safely reopen economies and hasten community-level immunity by encouraging vaccine uptake. But their ethical implementation is contingent upon a number of factors: first and foremost, equitable access to vaccines. Other considerations include minimizing distrust, accessibility, risks of discrimination, and privacy protections. In this concise, accessible overview, we outline these considerations and provide responsive policy recommendations to guide more equitable implementation and minimize distrust.

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