COVID-19 Vaccination Policy Research and Decision Support Initiative in Asia (CORESIA): a regional study on vaccination certificates

As countries being their COVID-19 vaccinationation campaigns, an increasing number of public and private sectors in many settings are considering the introduction of COVID-19 vaccination certificates or similar instruments as a safe passage into the new normal. By facilitating the resumption of travel and economic activities, they can play an essential role in domestic and global economic recovery. While the proposition of these instruments is attractive, countries must carefully design supporting policies such as the length of quarantine period and COVID-19 tests requirements by considering the potential costs and benefits of introducing these instruments. CORESIA is an initiative led by HITAP and the National University of Singapore (NUS) to develop guiding principles to support the development and implementation policies of such travel instruments. Recognising the interdisciplinary nature of these instruments, CORESIA operates through two consultation groups: A Working Group (WG) comprised of members from 10 Asian countries with a total population of more than 3 billion. These include South Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Lao PDR, Singapore, India, and Indonesia. An Advisory Group (AG) of international multi-disciplinary experts, namely, Prof. David Heyman (WHO Advisor, UK), Dr. Derrick Heng (Group Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Singapore), Prof. George Gao (Director-general of China CDC), Dr Go Tananka (Japan International Cooperation Agency , Japan), Dr. Kalaiarasu Peariasamy (Director of the Institute for Clinical Research, Malaysia), Prof. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien (MoH, Vietnam), Dr. Renu Garg (WHO, Thailand), Dr. Pushpa Wijesinghe (SEARO-WHO), Mr. Sihasak Phuangketkeow (Former Permanent Secretary, Thai Ministry of Foreign Affair), Prof. T. Sundararaman, (Global Coordinator, Public Health Movement, India), Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi (Former director-general of the World Trade Organization and former Secretary General, UNCTAD), and Dr. Suwit Wilbolpolprasert (Global Health Advisor to the Thai Ministry of Public Health).