There’s a good chance you’ll need documentation of a COVID-19 vaccine to get into some places, and Apple is trying to save you the trouble of pulling out an email or carrying a physical card in your wallet. As part of a future iPhone software upgrade, the business will include verifiable COVID-19 immunization cards to Wallet. The functionality will employ the worldwide SMART Health Cards standard (which is already in use in numerous states) to generate vaccination evidence, sign it with a private key, and generate a public key to authenticate your information.
The Health app in iOS 15, which was just released, now supports the same standard for storing verifiable immunization and test results. Your records will be delivered to you via QR codes, downloadable files, or through healthcare practitioners who use Health Records on iPhone.
Apple promises that all of your information will be kept private. Your imported or shared records will not be accessible to the firm, and all data must be encrypted and securely protected when transmitted elsewhere. Your vaccination card, as well as how you’ve used it, is likewise hidden from the digital giant. You can exchange data with “approved” third-party apps on a one-time basis only.
Apple has not stated when the card upgrade will be available. If the idea of discussing your immunization status with a concert venue or restaurant makes you nervous, this isn’t for you. However, it should at the very least speed up the procedure, which is critical when you’re already late for a show. Outside of experimental editions of impending iOS 15 releases, the feature isn’t available yet, but once it is, it could be beneficial. Several establishments, including restaurants, pubs, and sporting arenas, have already begun to require guests to provide proof of vaccination or recent negative test results at the entry.
Users could also expect further convenience-oriented integrations with verifiable health records, according to Apple.
The blog post adds, “Organizations who issue SMART Health Cards will soon be able to use a new button to let customers know that they may safely download and store their immunization information in the Health app and instantly add and show it from Wallet.”
