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Matt Hancock has just confirmed that Gov't is thinking about implementing 'immunity certificates' for those with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Both the science and the politics of this proposal need much more consideration. https://twitter.com/Nuffbioethics/status/1245337741627441152
John Bell helpfully explains difficulty getting SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests (although false negs more tolerable than false positives?) but we need more research about persistence of effective antibodies and discussion NOW about the social and ethical issues https://www.research.ox.ac.uk/Article/2020-04-05-trouble-in-testing-land
In particular, immunity certification needs serious debate - it is potentially socially divisive, disadvantages economically precarious and vulnerable people, and is counterproductive - expect people now to be trying to catch the virus as a way back into employment.
Not to mention the issues around norms of test uptake, access to test results, and sharing/retention of data (see my linked blog for some discussion). There is a need for government here - providing tests in unqualified neoliberal conditions would invite social disaster.
Do you have/ know of current bioethics work on this @EeHRN @EffyVayena @Prof_JonMont @DrMJTaylor. We @Nuffbioethics are keen to issues with testing are anticipated.
@carlykind_ looping you into this thread as it is relevant to issues we discussed. (See others' replies on my timeline.)
