Categories: Technology Facts

“Vaccine passports could further erode trust”on December 22, 2020 at 8:36 pm

Experts are debating the pros and cons of covid-19 vaccine passports or other types of certification as they attempt to begin reopening public spaces. The idea seems simple on its face: those who can prove they’ve been vaccinated for covid-19 would be able to go places and do things that unvaccinated people would not.

There’s early evidence that the vaccines authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use are “highly effective.” Tech and health companies are unveiling proposals that use vaccination as a prerequisite to participating in various public activities, but the concept raises a host of questions around community health, equity, and how much we really know about covid-19 immunity.

Nita Farahany is a leading expert on how technology and bioscience affects society. She is a professor of law and philosophy at Duke University, where she is also the director of the Initiative for Science & Society. From 2010 to 2017, she was on a presidential committee on bioethics.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Q: Do we know enough about the science of covid-19 to use a vaccine pass system with confidence that it will prevent transmission?

A: We have really early limited data from the Oxford-AstraZeneca and Moderna studies that suggest potentially a reduction in transmission but not an elimination in transmission. A person can be vaccinated and not suffer severe disease burden if they become ill–in fact, they might be completely asymptomatic–but they may still spread the virus to other people.

Q: We know the basics of how vaccines are starting to be distributed. How might a vaccine pass create inequity?

A: Basing reentry into society on just when you get the vaccine could just further entrench inequalities that have arisen. Trust by minority populations in healthcare and health institutions is very low right now. Conditioning their reengagement into society based on whether or not they take a vaccine when they already have such high levels of public distrust is deeply problematic. I think it further erodes trust. It could set back vaccine policy, healthcare, and trust in health and science even more than it already has.

The people who are willing to take the vaccine and who have higher levels of trust or who had earlier access because of wealth, or networks, are the ones who would have first crack at jobs as businesses reopen. They would get first crack at schools and slots in each of these different activities, tickets to events. You end up with a much longer-term impact of entrenchment of these inequalities that have arisen as part of the pandemic.

Read More

Recent Posts

Smarter Cleaning, Happier Clients: How Technology Is Transforming the Cleaning Industry

Managing a growing cleaning business comes with challenges. From scheduling and lead tracking to quoting,…

5 hours ago

Think Before You Sign: How Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Help You Avoid Settlement Slip-Ups

Navigating a workers’ compensation claim can feel like learning a new language while juggling bowling…

6 hours ago

Unsung Heroes of Hygiene: 7 Reasons Your Cleaner Deserves a Shoutout Today

In a world that thrives on productivity and wellness, cleanliness is more than just a…

6 hours ago

More Than Looks: Designing Interiors That Enrich the Way You Live

When we think about interior design, it's easy to focus on visuals, the color of…

6 hours ago

The Comfort of Personalized In-Home Care

In today’s fast-paced world, finding dependable, compassionate, and customized support for loved ones who need…

6 hours ago

What Insurance Companies Don’t Want You to Know: How They Watch Injured Workers

In the world of workers' compensation, it’s not just about medical reports and legal claims.…

6 hours ago