A digital proof-of-vaccination app, often referred to as a vaccine passport, will get a live trial for thousands of vaccinated Britons in a government-funded test to start soon.
The concept is expected to become common worldwide as vaccination spreads and countries begin to require it for travelers. The International Air Transport Association is working on a framework that would allow verified vaccination date and updated rules to be displayed in an app, to avoid the confusion that could result without an agreed standard.
The British app, developed by iProov, a biometrics firm and Mvine, a cyber security firm, is funded by Innovate UK, a government science and research funding agency. Aside from travel, it will help the UK’s National Health Service keep track of who needs the first or second dose. The app was originally developed to track testing and has been repurposed.
The trial will cover two local authorities, and results will be analyzed in March.
