As more cities and venues require proof of vaccination against COVID-19, Americans may soon have a high-tech option: an implanted microchip that serves as a vaccine passport. The technology, under development for years, is popular in Europe and lauded for its convenience.
However, the concept of a device embedded under the skin has sparked talk about the biblical mark of the beast, adding to fears and conspiracy theories about the COVID vaccine.
How the Microchip Implant Works
Last week, the South China Morning Post tweeted a video about the microchip and the implant process. Epicenter, a company in Stockholm, Sweden, has been developing the technology for years, well before the pandemic. Via syringe, a chip the size of a rice grain is inserted just below the skin, usually in the arm or hand. When a smartphone is held over that area, a QR code with immunization information appears.