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    Description
    Scientific peer-reviewed publication
    Description/abstract

    There is much debate about the use of immunity passports in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have argued that immunity passports are unethical and impractical, pointing to uncertainties relating to COVID-19 immunity, issues with testing, perverse incentives, doubtful economic benefits, privacy concerns, and the risk of discriminatory effects. We first review the scientific feasibility of immunity passports. Considerable hurdles remain, but increasing understanding of the neutralising antibody response to COVID-19 might make identifying members of the community at low risk of contracting and transmitting COVID-19 possible. We respond to the ethical arguments against immunity passports and give the positive ethical arguments. First, a strong presumption should be in favour of preserving people's free movement if at all feasible. Second, failing to recognise the reduced infection threat immune individuals pose risks punishing people for low-risk behaviour. Finally, further individual and social benefits are likely to accrue from allowing people to engage in free movement. Challenges relating to the implementation of immunity passports ought to be met with targeted solutions so as to maximise their benefit.

    Publication Language
    English
    Free Keywords
    Policy measures
    Topics
    Health status » Morbidity/disability » Communicable diseases » Covid-19;
    Policy » Adherence/ compliance to measure
    ISSN Number
    1473-3099
    Access rights to the publication
    Closed access
    Country:
    Policy measure
    Surveillance
    Journal
    The Lancet Infectious Diseases
    Publisher
    Elsevier BV
    Year of Publication
    2021
    Volume
    21
    Issue
    3
    Pages
    e58-e63
    Corresponding author
    Rebecca Brown
    Contact e-mail
    rebecca.brown@philosophy.ox.ac.uk
    Contact info (address)

    Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 1PT, UK