Vaccine verification is easy---private healthcare providers fill in the gaps
Mulligan and Harris 21 [Karen, PhD, is a research assistant professor of health policy and management at the USC Price School of Public Policy, *Jeffrey E., Professor of Economics Emeritus, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “COVID-19 Vaccination Mandates for School and Work Are Sound Public Policy” 7 July 2021, https://healthpolicy.usc.edu/research/covid-19-vaccination-mandates-for-school-and-work-are-sound-public-policy/. Accessed 12 July 2023]
Vaccination status, it might be contended, is not readily verifiable. Age requirements to purchase alcoholic beverages require a state-issued ID that uses advanced technology to screen out forgeries. And state governments, in turn, may have no political appetite for entering into the vaccination verification business.
These arguments overstate their case. Fulfilment of immunization requirements for school and work are already being certified by healthcare providers in the private sector. Some states have created vaccination databases, which allow individuals to verify their vaccination status.[78] Individuals vaccinated at CVS or Walgreens can obtain proof of vaccination through their apps or online.[79] There will be a strong incentive for private entry into the vaccination verification market, just as there are private firms currently verifying credit scores. Work in this area is already being undertaken by the MIT Media Lab,[80] IBM81 and other private firms.