Israel, Bahrain join hands for vaccine passports
Agencies | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
In a pathbreaking move, Bahrain and Israel yesterday agreed to recognise COVID-19 vaccine passports facilitating quarantine-free travel between two countries. The deal, a first of its kind, was reached following talks by Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Gabi Ashkenazi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel.
The deal also allows Bahrainis to enter places that require a domestic vaccine pass called a green passport to access restaurants, gyms, theatres and other venues. Arrangements are also progressing to recognise people who had vaccinated with a vaccine not recognised by one of the two countries.
Israel currently recognises the Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna vaccines, but not other vaccines available in Bahrain. The identification process will be digital using QR Codes. The passports will only contain COVID-19 vaccination information and will not include personal health records.
Several countries have already unilaterally recognised Israeli vaccine certificates, including Greece and Cyprus.
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