WHO Seeks Global Digital Vaccination System

WHO Seeks Global Digital Vaccination System

Stefan J. Bos

The World Health Organization (WHO) says its member states should roll out a global digital information system to check if people are vaccinated against COVID-19.

The guidance, published over the weekend and obtained by Worthy News, comes as a growing number of nations make coronavirus jabs obligatory despite concerns about side effects.

In the document, the WHO says it wants member states and partners to issue “standards-based interoperable digital certificates for COVID-19 vaccination status.”

It adds that these are “considerations for implementation of such systems, for the purposes of continuity of care, and proof of vaccination.”

Critics say these policies violate the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which includes the self-determination of people over their bodies.

Article 7 says: “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. In particular, no one shall be subjected without his free consent to medical or scientific experimentation.”

It was not immediately clear how the WHO, the U.N.‘s public health body, would reconcile its recommendations with the international treaty.

In its guidance, the WHO suggests replacing plastic vaccination status cards with digital certificates such as QR-codes, the type of matrix barcodes already used in smartphones.

“The primary target audience of this document is national authorities tasked with creating or overseeing the development of a digital vaccination certificate solution for COVID-19,” the WHO writes.

That solution may also be useful to “government partners such as local businesses” and international groups, “non-governmental organizations and trade associations,” the WHO adds.

The WHO warns they all “may be required to support Member States in developing or deploying a [Digital Documentation of COVID-19 Certificates: Vaccination Status] DDCC:VS solution.”

It admits there are ethical concerns but claims that “DDCC:VS can promote welfare through proof of vaccination.” It can also help in the “continuity of care by ensuring that individuals do not receive an inappropriate mix of vaccine types,” the WHO argues.