The implementation of the digital vaccination passport comes as the borders in England opened on May 17. The passport is designed so that British nationals traveling abroad can show proof of vaccination and are not required to undergo quarantine or testing for COVID-19.

However, UK authorities know that this type of digital document does not exempt its citizens from following the rules and recommendations of the country they are visiting. "Currently, there are not many countries that accept proof of vaccination. So people will still need to follow other rules when travelling abroad, such as getting a negative pre-departure test."

The Ada Lovelace Institute, an organization dedicated to researching socio-technical issues related to data and AI, considers the following points for achieving a vaccine passport system that delivers societal benefits:

1. Scientific confidence in the impact on public health
2. Clear, specific and delimited purpose
3. Ethical consideration and clear legal guidance about permitted and restricted uses, and mechanisms to support rights and redress, and to tackle illegal use
4. Sociotechnical system design, including operational infrastructure
5. Public legitimacy
6. Protection against future risks and mitigation strategies for global harms.

Similarly, the status can be obtained in physical format at least five days after receiving the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.