Vaccine passports around the world
BMJ 2021; 374 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n2142 (Published 01 September 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;374:n2142
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Editorial note, 9 September 2021: We picked up this error but not quickly enough to correct the print issue
Dear Editor,
I read with interest your article reflecting the latest global changes and attitude towards vaccine passports, as we begin to live alongside the coronavirus.
I have come to notice that despite our efforts in being an open, accepting society that we still remain ignorant of a lot of events that take place overseas, especially in more poor endemic areas. One of those examples is the lack of updates regarding any ongoing progress over in the African continent; Egypt has already begun producing vaccine passports to those who are vaccinated, as reported by several international newsagencies and journalists including AlJazeera Arabic.
Furthermore, the infographic has mistakenly labelled the United Arab Emirates to one of the African countries. To note, the United Arab Emirates is located in the Arab Gulf in the Middle East. It appears that the mislabelled country in the infographic is in fact Somalia. I believe this error should be at least corrected on the online publication to avoid confusion and misinformation for the readers.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Editorial note, 9 September 2021: We picked up this error but not quickly enough to correct the print issue
Dear Editor
I find the article very interesting as a view of global vaccine passports, however noticed that the print version has mistaken Somaliland for the UAE.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: Vaccine passports around the world
Vaccine passports are a dreadful idea, and my submission against them during the BMA Consultants Conference still stands - even more so regarding the fact that the vaccines do not guarantee prevention of infection or onward transmission.[1]
1 Anti-Domestic Covid Passport motion. 12 May 2021 YouTube
My proposal speech for motion 17 at the BMA Consultants Conference 2021: That this conference opposes the introduction of mandatory domestic COVID-19 "passports" for these reasons: i) It is ethically unsound to discriminate against individuals on immunological grounds, ii) It is the thin end of a wedge which sees private healthcare data entering the public domain, iii) Proof of vaccination is not proof of immunity
Competing interests: No competing interests