New York launches enhanced digital vaccine pass

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has launched a digital vaccine pass- Excelsior Pass Plus. The platform allows residents to securely upload their COVID-19 vaccination certificate or test results thereby facilitating travel and tourism. The passes are generated by the globally recognized SMART Health Cards Framework developed by an international consortium called VCI.

New York first launched a digital vaccination pass in March. The pass use cases have continued to expand. In June, the state announced that it was exploring the possibility of including driver’s licences in the vaccine passport system. This was being done in collaboration with IBM.