Paper card-based vs application-based vaccine credentials: a comparison

TL;DR

This paper compares paper card-based and app-based COVID-19 vaccine credential systems, analyzing their implementation, advantages, and suitability for different regions to inform better public health strategies.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of two vaccine credential systems and offers insights into their optimal regional applications and interoperability.

Findings

Card-based credentials suit regions with limited resources.

App-based credentials benefit regions with good internet access.

Interoperable systems are ideal for densely populated areas.

Abstract

In this early draft, we provide an overview on similarities and differences in the implementation of a paper card-based vaccine credential system and an app-based vaccine credential system. A vaccine credential's primary goal is to regulate entry and ensure safety of individuals within densely packed public locations and workspaces. This is critical for containing the rapid spread of Covid-19 in densely packed public locations since a single individual can infect a large majority of people in a crowd. A vaccine credential can also provide information such as an individual's Covid-19 vaccination history and adverse symptom reaction history to judge their potential impact on the overall health of individuals within densely packed public locations and workspaces. After completing the comparisons, we believe a card-based implementation will benefit regions with less socioeconomic mobility, limited resources, and stagnant administrations. An app-based implementation on the other hand will benefit regions with equitable internet access and lower technological divide. We also believe an interoperable system of both credential systems will work best for regions with enormous working-class populations and dense housing clusters.