LE FIGARO - To fight against the
Covid-19
pandemic
,
are you in favor of a vaccination passport or a mandatory health certificate to fly?
Augustin DE ROMANET -
In this matter, words are very important.
Basically, there is one observation: PCR or antigen tests are carried out in some countries by unreliable laboratories and it is difficult to give them probative force.
Many private players are working on digital health certificates.
Arnaud Vaissié, of International SOS, a service company that offers medical prevention services, for example imagined a trusted card, AOK Pass, which certifies, authenticates and secures the results of a Covid-19 screening test with air transport players and local authorities as well as health.
The temptation of some airlines is to make such a certificate compulsory.
In fact, this type of device already exists for yellow fever.
Since 2005, more than 200 countries have ratified the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO).
This international certificate is valid for 10 years.
The problem is the expression, “vaccination passport”, which mixes up and creates confusion between a document proving identity and to which rights are attached, which is the prerogative of the public authorities, and an act which establishes facts of medical order.
One may well not be vaccinated at some point due to an allergy or not to have an injection dose immediately after being ill with COVID.
Does this have to prevent traveling?
Is air transport justified in imposing constraints of the same scope as a State?
I think not.
To read also: Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne: "The debate on the vaccine passport for travel is premature"
But are states entitled to request a vaccine to enter their territory?
In theory, no doubt.
In practice, it is difficult for States to accept only vaccinated people on their territory.
Or there should be many exceptions.
It is as if we were forbidden to enter a bakery without a vaccine.
In reality, this debate is political.
It would be a very discriminatory measure.
We, in the aviation world, know that the risk of transmission of the virus on the plane is extremely low.
The question of knowing whether states want to make access to their territory conditional on being vaccinated is fraught with consequences ...
What rights would a vaccination passport give?
It all depends on what's in that passport.
The only advantage would be to facilitate entry control procedures.
It is an authentic document.
Three private companies asked us to work on health certificates.
Arnaud Vaissé, from International SOS, was the first to make me aware of it.
In particular, he is trying to convince the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to adopt its digital health certificate, which will be based on the certified recording for passengers of negative results of a Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination. .
Two other private companies also approached us.
As an airport welcoming all companies and nationalities, we cannot promote one solution in particular.
The introduction of private actors in the field of health information management is in any case high at stake in terms of respect for privacy.
