China, EU to roll out COVID-19 'vaccine passports'

Many international travelers planning to travel later this year will likely need to prove they are vaccinated or free of COVID-19, after the European Union and China both said they would move ahead with plans for "vaccine passports", The Wall Street Journal reported on March 3.

China will roll out health certificates for international travelers that will declare a person's vaccination status or recent test results to facilitate the safe and orderly flow of personnel, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday.

Similarly, the EU executive aims to present its plans for a "digital green pass" on March 17 and to cooperate with international organizations to ensure that its system also works beyond the European Union.

These "vaccination passports" will specify if someone has been vaccinated, and if not, carry details of their test results. EU leaders expect it to take three months to get the program running.

"The aim is to gradually enable them (EU citizens) to move safely in the European Union or abroad - for work or tourism," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.