IBM Blockchain Fuels State of New York’s Covid Health Pass

You probably associate the word excelsior with the late great Marvel-legend Stan Lee, but if you live in the state of New York, it could very soon become a part of your daily vocabulary. Rather than using it in conversations about the latest Marvel film, it is set to play a pivotal role in the one-way route out of Covid-restrictions for citizens of New York, thanks to the state’s recent collaboration with IBM to develop a ‘health pass’, fueled by IBM’s Digital Health Pass solution, built on blockchain technology. We’ve heard blockchain touted for this since the early days of the pandemic, but as is the case with every suggested blockchain use-case, we like to delve a little deeper to discover if this is another case of “blockchain bullshit”, or if it provides genuine value to key stakeholders.

What exactly is the State of New York’s ‘Excelsior Pass’, and why is it needed?

The Covid-19 pandemic has torn through the world in a way our generation has never seen before, many businesses were forced to close their doors while others had to quickly pivot to remote work – nobody remained unaffected. A year later we’re still battling the crisis, and while every US state has been impacted differently, and taken a slightly different approach to tackling the crisis, they all have one thing in common; citizens are desperate to return to some form of normality. Step forward the state of New York, who in 1778 unveiled a new coat of arms and the motto “Excelsior”, which translates from Latin to “ever upward”, something which feels incredibly appropriate given their recent announcement – the Excelsior Pass.

The Excelsior Pass is a very simple concept; it allows citizens to hold digital proof of their Covid-19 vaccination, or a recent negative test, which they can share to demonstrate that they are very unlikely to be carrying the virus. By doing this, more businesses can reopen, such as restaurants, and small gatherings can continue, safe in the knowledge that attendees are not carrying the virus, hopefully lowering the rate of transmission. It’s important to note that the Excelsior Pass is entirely optional, and is not mandated, but it is already being reported that venues including Madison Square Garden and the Times Union Center are exploring the pass. A blockchain leader at IBM explained themselves:

“Excelsior Pass is not “big brother” in disguise. Quite the opposite; it provides a way for individuals to easily access information the state already collects.  The opportunity is beyond COVID for the overall digitization of credentials and licenses by governments and institutions and serves as an example of how new technology-enabled approaches can be used to help foster a safe restart of economies while striving to protect public health.”

Mark Treshock, IBM Global Blockchain, Healthcare and Life Sciences Leader

The state of New York clearly believes that the Excelsior Pass could be their one-way ticket “ever upward” out of Covid-19 restrictions, and many governments are considering similar initiatives, which means the technology used to underpin the early iterations could become the standard.

So, what role did IBM play in the development of the Excelsior Pass, and why did they build it on a blockchain?

One of the biggest challenges facing any digital health passport is the privacy of the individuals using it. Ultimately, an individual’s health status is some of the most important and private information they have, and it must be protected accordingly. This is where IBM’s Digital Health Pass solution comes into play, thanks to the technology that underpins it. Because blockchain is decentralized, it allows individuals to be at the center of the data exchange, with complete responsibility for their own data and who they can share it with,

meaning businesses receive no personal data when scanning a pass. This introduces a level of privacy that many other technologies simply couldn’t provide, but it’s not the only benefit of blockchain – it also introduces a layer of trust. The traditional solution of paper-based vaccination cards are simple to replicate, and other technologies might struggle with the ‘garbage in garbage out’ challenge, with individuals able to upload fraudulent test results and vaccine certifications – rendering it ineffective. However, thanks to IBM Health Pass, all results are checked against the New York state database, solidifying their authenticity, and allowing businesses to reopen with confidence.

But while blockchain plays a crucial role in the Excelsior Pass behind the scenes, on the front-end the user experience is simple and easy. The individual’s credentials are accessed through a digital wallet, which is encrypted, and shared through either a smartphone or printed on paper – a key component for the Excelsior Pass as it ensures a wider range of citizens can access the solution. As well as this, the open-architecture design allows other states to easily participate in this program, which means the IBM-fuelled Excelsior Pass could soon become commonplace across multiple different states in the US, and even overseas.

Bottom Line: Health certificates are rising in popularity among governments globally, and it’s a great opportunity for blockchain technology to reach the mainstream.  

Moving into the post-pandemic reality is going to be neither quick nor easy – governments are desperately battling to test and vaccinate their populations, but it won’t happen overnight, and the Excelsior Pass could play a key role in accelerating this transition. It’s clear that IBM Health Pass, and the technology that powers it, is providing a layer of trust and security that’s needed for this use-case, and it presents a great opportunity to prove not only that blockchain can be effectively scaled, but also that it can provide genuine value to all key stakeholders.