Tech Companies Join Effort Focused On Covid-19 Vaccine Records

By Micah Maidenberg

Businesses including Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp. and Cerner Corp. are working with health groups on an effort to help people easily access their Covid-19 vaccination records.

The companies and organizations, including Mayo Clinic, formed the Vaccination Credential Initiative in order to ensure consumers can demonstrate their vaccination status and return to travel, work and school, according to a statement.

The goal of the effort is to "empower individuals to obtain an encrypted digital copy of their immunization credentials to store in a digital wallet of their choice. Those without smartphones could receive paper printed with QR codes containing W3C verifiable credentials," Paul Meyer, chief executive of the Commons Project Foundation, which is involved in the project.

Health groups that participate in the effort will agree to provide people with digital access to the records using common software standards.

Mike Sicilia, executive vice president of Oracle's Global Business Units, said accessing vaccination standards needs to be as simple as online banking.

Write to Micah Maidenberg at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 14, 2021 07:56 ET (12:56 GMT)

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