Vaccine passports open doors in Israel

Jerusalem: Israel will take a major step towards normality with the roll-out of a digital vaccination pass that will allow citizens to visit gyms, swimming pools and hotels.

Israelis holding vaccine passes, also known as “green passports”, will be allowed to visit leisure centres and take holidays at hotel resorts.

The green passport will be available to download on an app run by the health ministry but can also be printed out on paper, allowing the technology-averse ultraorthodox community to benefit from the scheme. Those who have caught and recovered from COVID-19 will also be allowed to use the passports, which feature a QR barcode that, once scanned, checks Israeli health records to confirm that the holder has received both doses of a COVID vaccine.

“Getting vaccinated is a moral duty. It is part of our mutual responsibility,” said Yuli Edelstein, the health minister, as the vaccination pass was unveiled. “Whoever does not get vaccinated will be left behind.”

Oleg Ivanyukov, the owner of Fitness Land in Rishon Lezion, said his staff were looking forward to welcoming back customers, but he had some concerns that the passport rule could be discriminatory.

“I am not a cop or an inspector, so we will just ask them if they have been vaccinated,” he said.

“I’m not going to ask to see the certificate, but if they have been vaccinated then they are welcome.”

Read the article by James Rothwell in The Age.