Lastly, Genomics England organised a public engagement initiative on whole-genome sequencing in newborns within the context of an early-stage pilot study.

Additionally, the European Society of Human Genetics argued that the broad implementation of whole-genome sequencing could lead to faster diagnosis of genetic diseases, personalised treatments, and improved public health (van El et al., 2013). In 2022, Gyngell and Savulescu proposed that a genomic passport could help manage COVID-19 and future pandemics (Gyngell and Savulescu, 2022). In 2019, researchers developed the PGx-Passport, a panel of 58 actionable germline variants alleles for pharmacogenetic purposes (van der Wouden et al., 2019). The concept of a genomic passport has already been studied in some specific contexts.

For this article, we will call this concept the genomic passport. This article ends with recommendations to alleviate these vulnerabilities in genomics now and in the future in which the genomic passport may become a reality.Īs the use of genomic technologies is becoming commonplace in healthcare for diagnostics and prevention, the prospect of sequencing the genomes of citizens at a large scale and sharing those genomic data to improve public health and for research aimed at enabling personalised healthcare is gaining traction. Moreover, the fundamental uncertainty in genomics-how will such sensitive information be used, and how will the science evolve?-exacerbates these vulnerabilities. Second, the misuse of the genomic passport can add situational vulnerabilities (e.g., discrimination causing psychological and economic harm). By revealing their constitutional weaknesses (predisposition to diseases), it reminds them that everyone is unavoidably and perennially at risk of being harmed. First, the genomic passport would inform them about their ontological vulnerability. Participants expressed their vulnerability in two ways. The inductive thematic analysis of participants’ contributions highlighted vulnerability as a fundamental concern, while this has not received sufficient attention so far in genomics. Hence, Sciensano-the Belgian scientific Institute of Public Health-organised an online citizen engagement on genomic information usage, including a question on a genomic passport for all. While this would have many advantages, it raises ethical issues requiring societal debate alongside academic reflection. Since genomics is becoming commonplace in healthcare for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, the prospect of generating a genomic passport for all citizens is gaining traction.

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