US: Biden White House in talks with airlines on vaccine passports; will issue guidance

The Biden administration is in extended discussions with US airlines and other travel industry groups to provide technical guidance for vaccine passports that could be used to ramp up international air travel safely, industry officials said. The administration has repeatedly made clear it will not require any businesses or Americans to use a digital COVID-19 health credential, however. It will also publish guidelines for the public. The key question, airline and travel industry officials say, is whether the US government will set standards or guidelines to assure foreign governments that data in US traveler digital passports is accurate. There are thousands of different US entities giving COVID-19 vaccines, including drugstores, hospitals and mass vaccination sites. Airline officials say privately that even if the United States does not mandate a COVID-19 digital record, other countries may require it or require all air passengers to be vaccinated.<br/>