Israel expands COVID-19 passport system to unvaccinated children

Israel is expanding its COVID-19 passport system to unvaccinated children in an effort to continue to reopen its economy.

Seventy-five percent of Israel’s adult population has been vaccinated, but children under 16 years old are not allowed to be vaccinated yet due to a lack of clinical trials and studies on how the vaccine affects children.

In order for children to be able to go to restaurants and movie theaters and to reopen children’s attractions such amusement parks, the country is launching a “green passport,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

After a child gets a negative PCR coronavirus test, they will be eligible for a green passport for three days that will allow them into venues that adults need a vaccine to get into.

PCR tests in Israel are widely accessible and free. The children’s green passport will be attached to their parents’ vaccine passports that come in the form of a QR code.

Israel has been allowing children into some venues using rapid coronavirus tests, but the test was good only for that venue and cost parents $10 to $20.

Israel has had one of the most successful vaccine programs in the world, being one of the first countries to get 75 percent of its eligible population vaccinated.

Despite the successful vaccination program, Israel is being very cautious about reopening, with the country lifting its outdoor mask mandate only in mid-April.

Israel is ready to order millions more coronavirus vaccine doses later this year to get children vaccinated once doing so is approved by Israel and international officials, according to the Journal.

Israel has had more than 838,000 reported COVID-19 cases and more than 6,000 deaths.