Claim Review: Are Vaccine Passports Just Around the Corner?

The recent announcement of the North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative (NAPAHPI) has sparked concerns about potential global control measures, including vaccine passports and policies targeting the 'infodemic'. Critics, such as epidemiologist Nicholas Hulscher, have expressed deep concerns about the initiative, suggesting it may empower the World Health Organization (WHO) to impose such measures.

The initiative, launched by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, aims to unite the countries’ public health agencies around a 'One Health' approach to addressing future pandemics. The One Health approach considers the relationships between the health of humans, animals, and the environment. This holistic strategy is designed to better prepare for and respond to future health threats, including zoonotic diseases that can cross from animals to humans.

Hulscher's claim that the initiative may lead to vaccine passports and global control measures is largely speculative. The official documents from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other participating agencies do not explicitly mention vaccine passports or global control measures. Instead, they focus on strengthening regional health security through a coordinated approach to various health threats.

The HHS report does mention 'border health measures', which could include screening of passengers, vaccination requirements, quarantine, and entry restrictions. However, these measures are described as 'evidence-based' and aimed at slowing the spread of pathogens. There is no indication that these measures will be implemented in the form of vaccine passports or that they will be used to impose global control.

Hulscher also raises concerns about the 'infodemic', referring to the spread of misinformation and disinformation on health-related topics. The WHO defines the infodemic as 'too much information including false or misleading information in digital and physical environments during a disease outbreak'. While the initiative does aim to tackle the infodemic, it is not clear that this will involve abolishing free speech or imposing draconian measures.

It is important to note that the initiative is based on a long-standing trilateral collaboration and builds on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other health security events. The focus is on strengthening regional capacities for prevention, preparedness, and response to a broad range of health security threats.

In conclusion, the claim that the North American Preparedness for Animal and Human Pandemics Initiative will lead to vaccine passports and global control measures is not supported by the available evidence. While the initiative does aim to strengthen regional health security and may involve border health measures, there is no explicit mention of vaccine passports or global control measures in the official documents.

References:

• WHO: One Health
• Public Health Canada: One Health
• HHS: U.S., Canada, Mexico Launch Pandemic Preparedness Initiative
• WHO: Infodemic Management