It may be getting easier for restaurants to vet patrons for COVID-19 vaccinations, thanks to a new partnership between OpenTable and biometric ID company CLEAR. 

When a potential customer books a restaurant reservation on OpenTable, a banner labeled CLEAR will pop up on the booking confirmation page. Users are able to click on the banner to find more information and get directions to create a digital vaccine card. 

Customers are able to use CLEAR’s app to verify their vaccination and proof of identity. This partnership comes shortly after OpenTable rolled out two other vaccine-focused features, including one that lets restaurants add a “Verification for Entry” tag and a “Proof of Vaccination” on their profile. 

WHY IT MATTERS 

Several cities are clamping down on vaccination requirements for indoor dining. For example, San Francisco is requiring diners to be fully vaccinated in order to dine indoors. 

In New York City, restaurant customers are required to show proof of at least one vaccination shot, and in New Orleans, clients are required to show proof of one vaccination dose or a negative PCR test within the last 72 hours. 

"Our partnership with CLEAR furthers our commitment to help both restaurants and diners navigate dining out in the next chapter of the pandemic," Debby Soo, CEO of OpenTable, said in a statement.

"For the last 18 months, we've focused all of our energy on building innovative features that make it easier to Dine On, safely. This collaboration aims to streamline restaurant entry, saving time for both restaurant staff and diners and lets everyone focus on the meal – not the logistics." 

This morning, the FDA cleared the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, making it the first COVID-19 vaccination to earn the designation. Currently, the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccinations are available through an FDA emergency use designation. 

As of August 22, 73% of adults in the U.S. have at least one vaccine dose, according to the CDC. However, there has been a recent surge in cases due to the Delta variant. According to CDC data, cases have steadily increased this summer.

Unvaccinated individuals make up the bulk of recent COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations. 

THE LARGER TREND 

Vaccine passports have become popular in the last year. In fact, even some governments have launched this type of technology. For example, it was announced in May that, in England, individuals are able to use the NHS app as a COVID-19 vaccine passport. Additionally, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) launched its own passport, called the Travel Pass app that lets passengers prove they have the immunization before they fly.

The EU announced its plans to roll out a Digital Green Pass that uses QR codes to help prove a person’s vaccination status.