Blockchain Tech Could Be The Key To Possible Mandatory Aussie COVID Vaccine

As countries around the world announce that a COVID vaccine is just around the corner, Australian authorities are discussing the possibility of making the vaccine mandatory – as well as ways to gauge the progress of vaccination campaigns across Australia.

Blockchain is already being used as a tool for contact tracing while traveling in South Korea, Singapore and other countries. By establishing an unchangeable list of contacts and places visited by someone who becomes ill, the spread of coronavirus can be held in check with ease.

Vaccination against the coronavirus could also be tied to government payments, a move planned as an extra incentive for those on the fence about vaccination.

Greg Hunt, the Minister of Health has gone on record stating that once a vaccine is discovered, the Government would strongly consider applying measures like “no jab, no pay” .

“It won’t be mandatory, but it will be widely encouraged. We are one of the world’s great vaccination nations and I expect very widespread uptake.” 

The Australian government is gunning for a 95 per cent vaccination rate, a number that would exclude those unable to receive vaccinations due to medical issues. Once the vaccination campaign is underway, Blockchain would be a powerful technology to implement that would allow people to prove that they have been vaccinated and,as such, pose no risk while travelling or going about their errands.

By adding the medical details of vaccine recipients to a blockchain, government payments could continue in an automated fashion, avoiding the bureaucracy that is generally characteristic for medical databases.

Whether the current plan for vaccination will be put into practice is yet to be seen – however, Blockchain technology could become a vital part in the ongoing battle for a safe and healthy return to normal.