Safely reopening Canada’s economy with a digital health credential that empowers the individual

Provincial COVID-19 immunization programs gave rise to differing vaccination receipts from several sources such as labs, pharmacies, and doctors’ offices.

Each had its own look and—in the absence of a reliable way to verify a receipt had been issued by a trusted authority—created challenges for use across Canada’s provinces and territories and internationally.

The federal government faced an urgent need to ensure access to vital public services and international travel for Canada’s more than 38 million citizens, regardless of their home region.

Deloitte was engaged to advise on and implement a proof of vaccination system that aligned on a pan-Canadian standard, critical elements for Canadian use, and an open-source code framework.

Working closely with stakeholders, Deloitte’s multidisciplinary team was able to:

• create a thoughtful engagement plan that built trust and won the support of Canada's regions for a standardized health credential
  
• develop end-to-end architecture and data standards for credential issuance
  
• manage and deliver a complex and vital public-sector project within a challenging time frame
  

Today, many organizations are undergoing online and digital transformations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of these transformations, many stakeholders need to implement digital solutions that certify, communicate, and authenticate identities and other data while increasing privacy and putting power in the hands of the individual.