Bahrain launches digital COVID vaccine passport

MANAMA: Bahrain has become one of the first countries in the world to launch a digital COVID vaccine passport designed to enable passengers to safely travel faster and easier.

Bahrain’s BeAware app enables individuals to show their immunity status two weeks after receiving two doses of the jab, when antibodies have started developing.

The COVID vaccine passport features a green ‘COVID-19 Vaccinated’ shield with official certificate detailing the user’s name, date of birth, nationality and the type of vaccine received. Authorities can verify its validity by scanning a QR code linking to the national vaccine register. Denmark and Sweden have announced their interest to adopt the same program.

To access the digital certificate, users must have received two doses of the vaccine, with 21 days between each. They then must wait for two weeks after the second dose for antibodies to start developing.

The International Monetary Fund forecasts Bahrain’s economy to grow 3.3% this year, driven by its quick policy response to minimize the impact of the pandemic. This has included rapid and widespread access to vaccinations and salary subsidies.

Bahrain offers citizens and residents alike free COVID vaccines—choosing between Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca or Sputnik V.