Blockchain-based Decentralised Management of Digital Passports of Health (DPoH) for Vaccination Records

Abstract

With the recent impact of viral infections and pandemics – akin to a recent global healthcare emergency due to COVID-19 - there is an urgent need for mass-scale testing and vaccination initiatives for tackling the health and economic crises. However, the centralized storage of patient information has given rise to significant concerns regarding privacy, transparency, and efficient transmission of vaccination records. This paper exploits a blockchain-based solution that presents a novel approach by seamlessly integrating identity verification, encryption protocols, and decentralized storage via IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) which gives rise to the concept of Digital Passport of Health (DPoH). The proposed solution in this paper introduces the concept of DPoH, specifically designed for test certification, and leverages the power of smart contracts on Ethereum-based blockchain technology for securely creating, managing and transmitting data in the form of DPoH. The proposed solution is being evaluated in three dimensions including (i) gas cost (i.e. energy efficiency), (ii) data storage (i.e. storage efficiency), and (iii) data access (i.e. response time) for creation and transmission of DHoPs. The developed solution and its criteria-based validation are complemented with algorithmic implementations that can progress existing research and development on blockchain-based management of health-critical systems.