By Will Jones/The Daily Sceptic

The World Health Organisation and the European Union yesterday announced their collaboration on global digital vaccine passports at a joint press conference in Geneva.

According to the press release posted on the WHO website:

In June 2023, WHO will take up the European Union system of digital COVID-19 certification to establish a global system that will help facilitate global mobility and protect citizens across the world from on-going and future health threats, including pandemics. This is the first building block of the WHO Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) that will develop a wide range of digital products to deliver better health for all.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said:

Building on the EU’s highly successful digital certification network, WHO aims to offer all WHO Member States access to an open-source digital health tool, which is based on the principles of equity, innovation, transparency and data protection and privacy. New digital health products in development aim to help people everywhere receive quality health services quickly and more effectively.

Based on the EU Global Health Strategy and WHO Global strategy on digital health, the initiative follows the November 30th 2022 agreement between the EU and WHO to enhance strategic cooperation on global health issues.

“This further bolsters a robust multilateral system with WHO at its core, powered by a strong EU,” the press release states.

Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Internal Market, said:

With 80 countries and territories connected to the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate, the EU has set a global standard. The EU certificate has not only been an important tool in our fight against the pandemic, but has also facilitated international travel and tourism. I am pleased that the WHO will build on the privacy-preserving principles and cutting-edge technology of the EU certificate to create a global tool against future pandemics.

According to the WHO press release, “one of the key elements in the European Union’s work against the COVID-19 pandemic has been digital COVID-19 certificates”, and now the WHO will “allow the world to benefit from convergence of digital certificates”.

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