The “Covid-19 Immunity passport” is a health certificate issued to patients who have recovered from Covid-19 certifying the bearer is immune to Coronavirus. This certificate exempts holders from quarantine measures giving full permission to travel and work. It is issued by a testing authority following a serology test demonstrating that the bearer has antibodies making them immune to a disease.
Many countries include United Kingdom and Australia are exploring the use of immunity passport.
Governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could serve as the basis for an “immunity passport” or “risk-free certificate” that would enable individuals to travel or to return to work assuming that they are protected against re-infection.
The Immunity certificate can only be issued if the following conditions are met
- Recovered patients have protective immunity that prevents them from being reinfected
- The protective immunity is long-lasting
- The pathogen mutates sufficiently slowly for immunity to work against most strains
- Immunity tests have low false-positive rates
WHO has urged caution saying there no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.
According to WHO, Laboratory tests that detect antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in people, including rapid immunodiagnostic tests, need further validation to determine their accuracy and reliability. There is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of antibody-mediated immunity to guarantee the accuracy of an “immunity passport” or “risk-free certificate.” People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice. The use of such certificates may therefore increase the risks of continued transmission. As new evidence becomes available, WHO will update this scientific brief.
Covid-19 passports soon to be introduced in the Schengen area to open up Europe for tourism. This was proposed by EU leaders as a part of common travel measures within the Union.
Travelers will be tested for covid19 in the origin country before being permitted to travel.
Unless the pandemic fully goes way, it would be impossible to travel without Covid-19 immunity passports issued by authorities. You will probably need an immunity certificate, a passport, and a mask to commence your international travel.
