The card is essentially a vaccination passport scheme and aims to enable people to move freely and safely in the EU or abroad.
The scheme will initially be geared to travel and tourism but this could be expanded in the future to other parts of society and commercial venues such as bars and theatres.
The card would be accessible through a smartphone and detail proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, store test results for those who haven’t been vaccinated yet, and give information on COVID-19 recovery.
Critics of the scheme have voiced concerns about data privacy and the potential for discrimination. The cards could raise human rights issues and create a two-tier society based on whether or not you have had the vaccination. There are also concerns that a two-tier society will follow historical patterns and may lead to civil unrest.
After over a year, the global Coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives. Only time will tell how initiatives such as this one from the European Union Commission will help us return to some semblance of normality.
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