Google Developers updated its API Passes, to allow safe and simple storage and access to COVID vaccination data and test results on Android devices.
Through COVID Card, government agencies, especially public health, will have access to this API, which will allow the creation of a digital version of the data on COVID-19 tests or vaccines against this disease. Initially it will be implemented in the United States and they hope that it will gradually be replicated in other countries.
For example, in Los Angeles, California, Healthavana, a health service provider, has created the digitized version of the COVID vaccination certificate, thanks to the Google API. In this way the users of its services can show the digital certificate from their mobile phone.
The user can access his certificate even without an internet connection with mobile data or Wi-Fi. All Android 5 and later devices have the ability to run this app.
Google explains that this technology has been designed to comply with the parameters and standards of privacy and security for the user:
- information storage: The user's COVID vaccine and testing information is stored on their Android device. The devices, even if they belong to the same user, are not connected. If a user wishes to access this information on several devices, they must store it manually on each one.
- Share information: Google is not able to share the information from the COVID Card, it is not connected with any other Google services or used for advertising targeting.
- information protection: To access the COVID Card, the user must enter a previously established password, a PIN or biometric methods.
