G20 Leaders Declare Global Digital Health Network

G20 leaders issued a joint declaration to ‘promote a global standard on proof of vaccination for international travel and calls for the establishment of ‘global digital health networks’ that build on existing digital Covid vaccine passport technology. This is in order to ‘[coordinate] policies in response, including in relation to future pandemics’.’

The relevant section of the joint declaration is paragraph 23, which provides, inter alia:

‘We support the WHO mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer hub as well as all as the spokes in all regions of the world with the objective of sharing technology and technical know-how on voluntary and mutually agreed terms. We welcome joint research and joint production of vaccines, including enhanced cooperation among developing countries. We acknowledge the importance of shared technical standards and verification methods, under the framework of the IHR (2005), to facilitate seamless international travel, interoperability, and recognising digital solutions and non-digital solutions, including proof of vaccinations. We support continued international dialogue and collaboration on the establishment of trusted global digital health networks as part of the efforts to strengthen prevention and response to future pandemics, that should capitalise and build on the success of the existing standards and digital Covid certificates.’

The IHR (International Health Regulations) is developed under the World Health Organisation (WHO) that lays down a global framework for responding to the international spread of disease.

The WHO-backed standard, which entered into force in 2007, required countries to strengthen surveillance capacities at border crossings and introduced a series of health documents, including international certificates of vaccination.

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