Ticketmaster planning on checking COVID-19 vaccine status for concert attendees

With Pfizer’s announcement that they have developed a vaccine that is 90 percent effective, and a new study which shows that the chances of concerts being super spreader events are very low, ticket seller and distribution company Ticketmaster announced that it is working on a plan to screen concertgoers to ensure that they've been vaccinated against COVID-19, or tested negative for the virus.

According to Billboard, the goal of the plan is to ensure the safety of concertgoers. The plan would use the Ticketmaster app to make sure that fans have either been vaccinated, or tested negative for the coronavirus in the last 24 to 72 hours. The company will collect their patron’s health information by working with third-party health information companies and vaccine distribution providers.

“We imagine there will be many third-party health care providers handling vetting—whether that is getting a vaccine, taking a test, or other methods of review and approval—which could then be linked via a digital ticket so everyone entering the event is verified," said Ticketmaster President Mark Yovich to Billboard.

Ticketmaster has also created other systems to help keep the “new normal” concert experience safe. This includes a “SmartEvent” system which helps enforce social distancing, delayed entry, and contact tracing. With this new system, organizers will also be able to set up additional protocols to meet regional health regulations. This includes sanitation and mask wearing.

Yovich says that “Ticketmaster’s goal is to provide enough flexibility and options that venues and fans have multiple paths to return to events, and is working to create integrations to our API and leading digital ticketing technology as we will look to tap into the top solutions based on what’s green-lit by officials and desired by clients.”

There is still no clear timeline on when the vaccine will be widely available to the general population. However, some health experts have said that fans should not expect to be able to attend concerts until “at least” the fall of 2021.