New text has been added that allows member states to require “documents containing information for a lab test in the digital or physical format” and “information on vaccination against a disease.”Īnother amendment states that “documents containing information concerning traveler’s destination…should preferably be produced in digital form, with paper form as a residual option” and suggests that this will be used for contact tracing. However, these proposed amendments to the IHR greatly expand on the existing recommendations and lay out a framework for digital vaccine passports and other forms of digital tracking. The current version of the IHR already allows the WHO to issue recommendations to “review proof of vaccination,” “require vaccination,” and “implement tracing of contacts of the suspect or affected persons.” They also outline how the WHO intends to use its new powers to push global vaccine passports when it declares “potential or actual” health emergencies.
These proposed amendments give the WHO new powers to declare “potential” health emergencies and include commitments from member states to recognize the WHO as the “coordinating authority” during certain types of health emergencies. Since this initial push, other member states have proposed their own amendments and the total number of proposed changes now sits at 307. The movement to amend these International Health Regulations (IHR) began in January last year when the Biden administration quietly pushed for major changes.
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