Vaccine apps were created and banned

After launching a vaccine passport in February, New York City in August became the first U.S. jurisdiction to require people entering public venues to be inoculated against COVID-19 and launched an app that allows users to display proof of vaccination.

Others soon followed. California launched a website in June allowing people to fetch their vaccination status, though Gov. Gavin Newsom was careful to note that the new tool was “not a passport,” despite having many of the same features. Hawaii and Washington were among those to launch their own apps in the fall.

Other states meanwhile took steps to ensure such apps wouldn’t be created. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey in April banned all state agencies and local governments throughout the state from requiring people to provide proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to receive service.