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Could Covid vaccination passports shut out lower income countries?

A vaccine passport or certificate would allow people to prove that they have been vaccinated when they travel abroad, and many governments are considering introducing these. However, there are concerns, given the inequality of vaccine distribution and the dangers of fraud.

Jennifer Nuzzo, Director of The Outbreak Observatory at Johns Hopkins University in the US, says that only 3.5 percent of low income countries are currently vaccinating their populations and that introducing passports could put a penalty on those unable to access vaccines. She also believes there's a danger that fake certificates could be produced.

"That puts a penalty on countries that have been unable to access vaccines."

Photo: A man shows his vaccination certificate after receiving a Covid-19 vaccine in Bahrain Credit: Reuters

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