Immunity passport service design: a user-centred approach to inform UK's national exit strategy from the lockdown

We will apply a user-centred design approach to conduct research that contributes to our understanding of immunity passport services as part of the UK's COVID-19 exit strategy. These immunity or health passports would allow individuals who have antibodies of the SARS-COV-2, and are no longer carriers of the virus, to return back to work, travel or socialise without restrictions.

Their use has formed part of many countries' exit plans. Yet, there is dispute among scientists, policy makers and the public that such interventions are based on many uncertainties that could put public health at risk, infringe privacy and lead to inequalities in society. To better understand this phenomenon, we will engage with key stakeholders to address the following questions:

- What are the possible unintended consequences and risks of immunity passports?

- What are the key stakeholders' requirements, resources, technologies and processes needed in the design of services around immunity passports in order to mitigate any unintended consequences?

Our approach will involve interviews, focus groups and participatory design workshops. Key deliverables will be specifications for service design including blueprints and user journey maps. This application fits the following UKRI proposal type: 'new research or innovation with a clear impact pathway that has the potential to deliver a significant contribution to the understanding of, and response to, the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts', and contributes to the following UKRI questions: What information should inform decision-making about emerging from lock-down (policy responses)? What are the unintended consequences of releasing data (Data Science/Engineering)?