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Without Standards or Regulations, COVID 'Passports' Are Poised to Create Even More Confusion
Apr 05 2021
Concerts, performances and other public gatherings are back on come April 15 — that is if attendees can prove they've been vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19.
This announcement came on Friday, with no clear plan of how Southern Californians will prove their credentials.
<p>Experts are worried about initiating this new strategy without a set of single standards or regulations. It raises a host of questions about forgery, health privacy records and accessibility.</p><p>"Each jurisdiction is kind of left to their own devices," said Rita Burke, an assistant professor of clinical preventive medicine at USC's Keck School of Medicine of USC. "There's no one set of guidelines which — in a situation like this — would be really, really helpful."</p><p>On eBay, she said, scammers are already selling replica vaccine cards for around $200. </p><p>The landscape of vaccine passports has evolved into an unregulated, crowded market. At least four Los Angeles entities have created their own, some working with others, including UCLA and health care startups Carbon Health and Healthvana.</p><p>President Biden's chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci said Monday on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HeqbYwqZVi9JvtPBFJYdU?si=98b4234829d34017&nd=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Politico's podcast</a> that the federal government will not require the credentials for businesses or travelers.</p><p>And last week, the Biden administration said it's letting private companies take the reins over vaccine passports, opting out of creating a centralized system for verifications. </p><p>How California — and any other state — will use the digital tools is still unknown. And the state has remained quiet on its strategy. </p><p>New York officials have launched their own version called Excelsior Pass for concert and event-goers. Meanwhile, a Florida governor on Friday banned digital certifications for vaccines, <a href="https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/EO-21-81.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">citing</a> concerns over privacy and "individual freedom."</p><p>"It's going to be hard for businesses to require a passport because nobody wants to be perceived as forcing people to take a vaccine," said Ken Mayer, co-founder and CEO of the health tech company SAFE Health.</p><p>The L.A. startup is working with IBM and a coalition called the Vaccination Credential Initiative to develop passports for people to show proof of vaccination or recent COVID-19 test via QR code. It's one of several tech companies working behind the scenes for what will essentially be a ticket to freedom for many.</p><p>But the system, some worry, could create a have-and-have-not world where those with the vaccination gain access to concerts, offices and international travel. </p><p>"I think COVID passports should not be a thing that further divides people and makes it even more difficult for people who are on the margins," said Jakub Hlavka, a fellow at the USC Schaeffer Institute.</p><p>Hlavka said that inequitable vaccine distribution — especially in rural areas unable to preserve vaccines at specific temperatures for long — will impact how freely people are able to travel internationally, or how families across borders will reconnect after the pandemic.</p><p>It's also raising concern about personal health record keeping.</p><p>"This is a new concept so it sounds simple until you get into the security and privacy details," said Eren Bali, the co-founder and CEO of Carbon Health, which runs L.A.'s vaccine appointment website. </p><p>Bali said that any digital application should be for a single use and not allow providers to store "random health data" such as diabetes or other personal medical information that is protected and has no bearing on public health. </p><p>The company recently developed its own digital certification card called Health Pass, which is automatically provided to individuals who completed vaccination through the city of Los Angeles. </p><p>"I think this is only relevant for highly infectious diseases," he said, pointing to yellow fever as another use case for a vaccine passport. </p><p>L.A.'s Department of Public Health did not immediately reply for comment, but in March, a spokesperson confirmed that the county was working with <a href="https://dot.la/healthvana-2649755611.html" target="_self">Healthvana</a> to send out their own electronic passport. </p><p>Even if vaccine passports catch on, people will still receive a white vaccination record card after getting the shot. But it's unclear whether venues or businesses will accept them as proof, or how they'll be verified for authenticity.</p><p>Almost a third of California residents have been partially vaccinated. Health officials in Los Angeles County report 1.3 million people have been fully vaccinated, but that data doesn't include Pasadena and Long Beach.</p><p>One upside to a digital passport is that it could serve as an incentive for those yet to be vaccinated, said Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, who represents much of the west San Fernando Valley and sits on the Assembly's Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee.</p><p>The committee oversees California's Department of Technology, responsible for partnering with state and local government to deliver digital services like MyTurn, the vaccination appointment portal run by the state.</p><p>"Hopefully it's something that'll motivate people who may be on the fence, knowing that they're able to do these things," he said.</p><p>But Burke says those who are skeptical about the vaccine are also the people wary of a vaccine passport.</p><p>Plus, proving a negative COVID-19 test "does not guarantee that you don't have COVID," she added. Venues and businesses should reconsider accepting days-old negative test results before letting customers inside.</p><p>"Showing a negative test is not really a good way of approaching this," Burke said. "Now, as we're opening up, we really need to focus on getting as many folks vaccinated as possible." </p><p><em>Keerthi Vedantam contributed to this report. <a href="https://dot.la/u/keerthivendantam" target="_self"></a></em></p><p><em>This story has been updated.</em><br/></p>
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Healthvana, Once Focused on HIV Results, Partners with LA on Vaccination Records and Reminders
Jan 06 2021
Los Angeles officials are preparing for the next phase of a massive vaccine campaign that will test the region's capabilities. Most Angelenos aren't expected to get the vaccine until the spring or summer.
Among the stickiest of problems is how to ensure patients are given a second vaccine dose or "booster dose" meant to make the inoculation 95% effective and authenticate who has the vaccine.
<p>With no national strategy, individual counties have been desperately looking for solutions. In Florida, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-05/u-s-officals-resort-to-party-invite-sites-for-vaccine-rollout?sref=4Kf8RwDw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bloomberg reports</a> that officials trying to rollout the vaccination have turned to party reservation system Eventbrite as government websites become overwhelmed. </p><p>In Los Angeles, the nation's most populous county, officials have enlisted Healthvana, a healthcare startup that in 2015 began delivering HIV results to users over its platform.</p><p>Since April, the company has provided coronavirus test results to patients accessing a number of county testing sites — including one at Dodger Stadium — through its partnership with labs like <a href="https://dot.la/coronavirus-rapid-test-curative-los-angeles-2645906983.html" target="_self">Curative</a>.</p><p>It's likely that a slew of tech solutions will spring up as more vaccinations are administered across the country and the need to show proof of immunization grows. </p><p>"There won't be one system across the country that manages all of this, from what we know," said Healthvana CEO Ramin Bastani. "We're not trying to be the only system."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img
class="rm-lazyloadable-image rm-shortcode" type="lazy-image"
data-runner-src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNTIzOTM3Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTc4NzY3MH0.QfgRQ1zxxbSMQ__vgfx9GTRWSad8EbFTuPfYyqx0l94/image.jpg?width=980"
id="8c538"
width="1283"
height="877"
data-rm-shortcode-id="e91c955f4d35d37c4b099602b5e72249" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Healthvana" />
</p><p>After receiving a dose of the vaccine from a county vaccination site, Healthvana sends the patient an email or text message to view their digital vaccination record. Users can then opt-in to receive text messages and email reminders for the second dose and store the record in their Apple or Google Wallet.<br/></p><p>The Department of Public Health said this technology will not replace the paper vaccination cards. Those without smartphones can print a PDF version of the Healthvana record or stick to that hard-copy documentation. </p><p>"It's kind of similar to credit cards as a form of payment," Bastani said. "It's not like you can only use an American Express across the country and that's the only form of credit card." </p><p>But Bastani is careful about how he's positioning this tool and says these records don't serve as an "immunity passport." </p><p>L.A. County has administered 75,015 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and 7,871 doses of Moderna's. Together, that represents just 30.7% of all doses allocated to the county.</p><p>In a briefing Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said the state remains in phase one of its <a href="http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/Coronavirus/docs/about/COVIDVaccineDistributionPhases.pdf" target="_blank">vaccination plan</a>, which prioritizes the roughly three million health care workers and long-term care residents. Phase 1B will first target people over 75 and workers in education in childcare, emergency services, food and agriculture. </p><p>"We are working aggressively to accelerate our pace," he said. "That said, it's gone too slowly."</p><p><em>This post has been updated. </em></p>
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Los Angeles is seeing a renaissance in medical technology.
Earlier this month a venture capital firm headed by two former Amgen executives announced they raised $500 million to boost and incubate new life science and biotech companies across Los Angeles. And the firm, Westlake Village Biopartners, is working to develop a 30,000 square foot campus in Thousand Oaks.
<p>
Across town, the 20,000 square foot LABioSpace is set to open. Funded through the county, federal funds and private donations, the incubator will feature lab space dedicated to bioscience research and collaboration and is designed to house up to 25 companies.
</p><p>
And yet, another "innovation hub" backed by the county and private funds called BioScienceLA is expected to launch its own space in Culver City next year.
</p><p>
"For years, we have lost talented scientists and entrepreneurs to other regions, due to lack of investment capital and start-up and expansion space for growing companies," said David J. Whelan, the CEO of BioscienceLA. "We are finally at an inflection point, with funding, space, and talent supporting each other to grow the LA life sciences ecosystem."
</p><p>
Here are some trends to watch in healthtech.
</p><h2>Telemedicine Brings Health Access and Equity to Patients at Home</h2><p>
Doctors visits and at-home testing have been made easier during the pandemic as more companies launch platforms to deliver health information to patients from home.
</p><p>
COVID-19 has sparked new demand for telehealth services to test and treat consumers. And more clinics and hospitals are adopting the tech. According to a PitchBook <a href="https://pitchbook.com/news/reports/q2-2020-emerging-tech-research-retail-health-wellness-tech" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">report</a>, companies in the virtual health segment raised about $534 million in venture funding in the second quarter of 2020.
</p><p>
L.A. startups like Healthvana and <a href="https://dot.la/consejosano-2649513485.html" target="_self">ConsejoSano</a>, a platform for patients and providers that aims to make healthcare easier to access for multiple cultures and languages. Last week, the North Hollywood company raised $17 million to build out its services like scheduling appointments and coordinating transportation to a patient's provider.
</p><p>
Meanwhile, Los Angeles-based MotiSpark developed a digital tool to send personalized reminders to users. And in September, the Santa Monica-based prescription discount platform GoodRx, <a href="https://dot.la/goodrx-app-2647780743/particle-2" target="_self">went public</a> and became the most downloaded medical app, boasting five million active users and 70,000 pharmacies.
</p><h2>More Investment in Diagnostics </h2><p>
Diagnostic companies typically have a hard time securing capital, but this year changed that. Kevin Zhang, a partner at Upfront Ventures who leads health and biotech investments, said the life sciences industry has seen a spike in gene therapeutics companies over the last few years. And the wave of new drugs brings with it new demand for lab testing.
</p><p>
"Frankly, it was a bit of a dead zone for venture investment," he said. "It's one of the least sexy areas to put money into. Now that's grown tremendously"
</p><p>
The pandemic has only accelerated that need, Zhang said, and investors have shifted their attitude about biotech companies focused on diagnostics.
</p><p>
Since March, L.A. biotech companies and labs like <a href="https://dot.la/coronavirus-rapid-test-curative-los-angeles-2645906983.html" target="_self">Curative</a> have pivoted to developing and administering COVID-19 tests. The team's testing technology is now being deployed across the nation. Meanwhile, several companies are now producing <a href="https://dot.la/la-small-business-ecommerce-2649455924.html" target="_self">vaccines</a> and COVID-19 therapeutics as the nation gears up for mass distribution.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<a href="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY3OTM3MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTI4MjEwMX0.3lEVWrHJp9r5rJpYEhx7sQUk-RHdMhOhdnzevOukAME/img.jpg?width=980" target="_blank"><img
class="rm-shortcode" type="lazy-image"
data-runner-src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY3OTM3MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY3NDM1NDEwMX0.Ty0bKPHFYY_e-6AwKcQVTsidCEVZpoBxCSDKboXV7iY/image.jpg?width=980"
id="e6798"
data-rm-shortcode-id="70a4e976d4a93e1b0f2be1995a5075b4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Headspace app" /></a>
</p><h2>Employers Using Mental Health and Wellness Tech </h2><p>
The anxiety and stress caused by the pandemic has stoked demand for mental and physical wellness apps, including several based in Southern California. Experts see interest continuing into the new year as these wellness companies tap corporate partners to drive growth.
</p><p>
Earlier this year, Headspace, the Santa Monica-based meditation app, began offering free subscriptions to healthcare providers and teachers.
</p><p>
"We've seen explosive growth," said Headspace co-founder and CEO Rich Pierson at dot.LA's Summit in October. "CEOs have realized now that mental health is being discussed in every boardroom. That was not the case pre-COVID."
</p><p>
Calm, Talkspace and BetterHelp are among the handful of tech startups selling meditation classes and more affordable therapy access. And both Calm and Headspace offer a corporate product as employers and insurance companies have worked to make mental health resources more accessible since the pandemic began.
</p><p>
Exercise subscription platforms are also seen a boom. Apple launched its Fitness+ app in December, whose classes are filmed at a Santa Monica studio. As gyms remain closed in many parts of the country, consumers are buying up Pelotons and Mirrors. The craze is expected to continue to grow into the next year with several Southern California companies poised to benefit.
</p><p>
Indoor cycling app Zwift scored a $450 million investment in September. The Long Beach-based company is taking on Peloton building "hardware," presumably stationary bicycles, to go along with its 3-D generated worlds where users can compete from their living room. Another L.A.-based company Presence Fit <a href="https://dot.la/presence-fit-2648121173/particle-2" target="_self">raised $1 million</a> in October for its two-way live interval training classes. And then there's FightCamp, which promises to capture the feeling of a boxing gym in your home.
</p>
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