The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that the EU COVID Digital Certificate (DCC) and the UK NHS COVID Pass can now be uploaded to the IATA Travel Pass as verified proof of travel vaccination.
Travelers holding an EU DCC or UK NHS COVID Pass can now access COVID-19 information for their journey, create an electronic version of their passport and import their vaccination certificate in one place. This information may be shared with airlines and border control authorities, who can be assured that the certificate presented to them is authentic and belongs to the person presenting it.
" COVID-19 vaccination certificates are becoming a major requirement for international travel. The use of European and British certificates through the IATA Travel Pass is an important step, providing comfort for passengers, authenticity for governments and efficiency for airlines. Said Nick Careen, IATA's senior vice president for operations safety and security.
Harmonization of digital standards for vaccines
Harmonization of digital vaccine standards is essential to support the safe and scalable restart of aviation, to avoid unnecessary queues at airports and to ensure a pleasant experience for passengers. IATA welcomes the work done by the EU Commission in developing the DCC system in record time and therefore standardizing digital vaccine certificates across Europe.
Building on the success of the EU's DCC, IATA urges the World Health Organization (WHO) to review its work to develop a globally certified digital standard for the vaccine.
As more states launch their vaccination programs, many are urgently looking to implement technical solutions to provide digital vaccine certificates for their citizens as they travel. In the absence of a WHO standard, IATA urges them to look closely at the EU DCC as a proven solution that meets WHO guidelines and can help reconnect the world.Careen said.