STOCKHOLM, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Sweden is developing a digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate for use in international travel. The aim is to have the system in place by June 1, the government said on Friday.
"Sweden is driving the development of digital vaccination certificates. We now have a model that is simple, safe and versatile. I see these vaccination certificates being in place by the summer," Anders Ygeman, minister for digital development, said at a press conference.
Ygeman said he expected travel companies and countries to require internationally valid proof of vaccination in the future. "Today, many demand proof of COVID-19 tests and as the vaccine arrives, it is logical that they will demand vaccine certificates," he said.
The certificate could also be used to access certain events or services in Sweden, Ygeman said, adding that provisions should be made to ensure that those who cannot be vaccinated will not be discriminated against.
The certificate would be accessible through digital identification and could be saved on a smartphone or in a digital wallet. It could also be sent by regular mail either as a paper document or an NFC (near-field communication) sticker attached to the owner's passport.
An encryption key would be attached to enable the verification of its authenticity at border controls.
As of Thursday, Sweden had administered COVID-19 vaccines to 568,000 individuals, of whom 285,000 had already received two doses, according to the Public Health Agency.
By Friday, Sweden had registered nearly 685,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic started, 4,800 more than by Thursday. The number of deaths had increased by 26 to a total of 13,003.
As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in an increasing number of countries with already-authorized coronavirus vaccines.
Meanwhile, 261 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 79 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain, and the United States, according to information released by the World Health Organization on March 5. Enditem
