Israel to begin issuance of COVID-19 immunity passports

The ministry of health in Israel announced that it would begin issuing a COVID-19 immunity passport to individuals that have received two doses of the vaccine.

Israel has been praised for its fast delivery of vaccines to its people. Less than a month after receiving its first shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab, the country has vaccinated around 20% of its population.

Also, more than 72% of people over the age of 60 have gotten their first dose of the shot. Israel’s health ministry aims to have 5.2 million of its citizens vaccinated by March.

COVID-19 immunity passport will offer vaccinated individuals freedom from COVID-19 lockdown rules

As the country plans on easing its lockdown, the ministry of health says the “green booklet” will offer vaccinated individuals significant freedom from Covid-19 safety restrictions in Israel.

People holding it would no longer be required to:

Go into isolation after coming in contact with an infected person.

Go into isolation after international traveling to a COVID-19 “red zone,” or countries with very high infection rates.

Have to be tested before entering certain touristy areas, known as “green islands.”

They, however, will still be required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing of two meters away from others.

COVID-19 immunity passports can also be used around the world

Vaccinated people holding the immunity booklet would be “eligible for relaxed restrictions in destinations around the world,” the Israel health ministry’s website said.

The website also stated the rules for the validity of the passport: data on proof of vaccination would be registered in the Ministry of Health’s database, and recovered patients who have not been vaccinated are not eligible for the booklet.

“The Ministry of Health will issue the vaccine certificate after receiving the second dose. It will take effect 7 days later, not counting the day of vaccine administration,” the website added.