Immunity Certificates during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Published: 22 September 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has triggered controversial discussions about the introduction of state-controlled immunity certificates. For people who are demonstrably immune to the pathogen, such a certificate could mean the removal of anti-infection restrictions, either in certain contexts or areas, or even generally. It could however also come with specific obligations in the fight against the pandemic.

Relating to legislative decisions on the Covid-19 pandemic, the Federal Minister of Health has asked the German Ethics Council to consider the ethical requirements and implications associated with such certificates. In its Opinion, the German Ethics Council makes a number of joint recommendations on the topic and develops different positions on whether and − if so − under which conditions immunity certificates can be recommended.