Can Immunization Passports Improve Willingness to Vaccinate?

To date, 60% of Canadians are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Due to emerging, highly contagious COVID-19 variants, the number of Canadians needed to be vaccinated in order to achieve "herd immunity" may be close to 90%. Vaccine hesitancy can impact COVID-19 vaccination rates and the ability to fully re-open society. It is critical that as many Canadians that can get vaccinated, do. Vaccine passports provide proof of vaccination and could be used for international and domestic travel, in certain workplaces such as schools or hospitals or for large gatherings such as sporting events. It is possible that the use of vaccine passports could impact an individual's willingness to get vaccinated. In this study we will examine the impact of vaccine passports on willingness to vaccinate. First, we will conduct a literature review to evaluate research on the impact of COVID-19 vaccine passports on willingness to vaccinate. Second, we will conduct a national survey to find out Canadian's attitudes and beliefs surrounding the use of vaccine passports and how this might impact willingness to vaccinate. Third, we will review the online opinions made by individuals on new media comment sections. Finally, we will provide recommendations on whether and how vaccine passports should be implemented to increase vaccine uptake among Canadians. This research will inform the best practices for using vaccine passports among Canadians.