Nova Scotia participating in national conversations on vaccine passports

Most Canadians would be in favour of requiring proof of a COVID-19 vaccine for international travel.

According to a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute, 79 per cent support the idea of so-called “vaccine passports” for travel beyond the U.S. while 76 per cent think they should also be used for those who want to go to the States.

Another 78 per cent think they'd be a good idea for anyone boarding a commercial flight.

The province's chief medical officer of health says national discussions on vaccine passports are taking place, but many of the fine details still need to be worked out.

“On the technical side, what are the standards you would have that would be proof of immunization? If you're going to do it electronically, what are the systems that have that, so there's a lot of technical work,” explained Dr. Robert Strang at a Tuesday briefing.

“On the other side of this, how are they used?” he continued. “There's a lot of ethical and other decisions about making sure we don't unjustly marginalize people who for one reason or another have not had an opportunity to get vaccinated yet.”

The Angus Reid study found a small majority of Canadians are also in favour of vaccine passports for domestic use, with 69 per cent thinking they should be shown before attending an event with more than 50 people such as a concert and 55 per cent in favour of them being required at restaurants, malls, movie theatres and workplaces.