Covid-19: Unified GCC health passport in the works

Muscat - The project is expected to smooth travel for passengers between Gulf countries.

A unified Covid-19 health passport will be discussed at a GCC health officials meeting next week, according to a top Omani official.

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Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday, Dr Saif Salim Al Abri, Director-General of Disease Control and Surveillance noted that GCC countries would soon discuss the issue of a unified Gulf health passport, in addition to travel and movement between GCC countries.

"A unified GCC health passport project has been envisaged to identify those who took Covid-19 vaccinations," state news agency ONA quoted the minister as saying. "The project will be discussed in a GCC meeting next week."

Earlier this month, Bahrain became one of the first countries in the world to launch a digital Covid vaccine passport.

A certificate – green 'COVID-19 Vaccinated' shield – will be issued to vaccinated people with the user's name, date of birth, nationality and which vaccine they received.

This will help authorities to verify the validity of users by scanning a QR code which is linked to a national vaccine register.

• Oman