NI vaccine passport scheme could be ready by July 5th
The Department of Health has confirmed an international travel certificate is in the making.
Last updated 24th Jun 2021
An international vaccine certification scheme will go live in Northern Ireland as early as July 5.
The Department of Health says the latest implementation date for a system of 'hard-copy' certificates will be July 19.
Digital copies should then be offered by August.
A statement said ensuring an international proof of vaccination to allow the public to travel more freely is delivered by 19 July will provide alignment with the Republic.
It also comes as vaccine certification processes are currently being developed by UK and EU authorities.
The Department’s Chief Digital Information Officer Dan West said: “The aim is effectively to have a Covid-19 vaccine passport - internationally recognised proof a person has had both vaccine doses.
“This will complement the UK’s existing traffic light system for international travel, which can include PCR tests and quarantine rules, depending on the travel location.
“While final decisions have still to be taken on how and when these vaccine certificates will be used, they are expected to make foreign travel easier for people who have had both doses.
“Governments and businesses may also decide to use them in other circumstances, such as access to events and activities. Such decisions have still to be made here in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.”
Mr West added: “A lot of hard work is ongoing to deliver Northern Ireland’s scheme. Unlike other jurisdictions, we have not had the advantage of a pre-existing health service app. We are therefore building our system from scratch.
“We also want to make sure that rigorous cyber security checks are completed to protect against hackers, reflecting how seriously we take the protection of personal data.”
Northern Ireland’s vaccine certificates will in the first instance be in specialised hard copy format.
These will feature security and counterfeit protection features and a specialised printing process will be required.
A digital alternative to the hardcopy format will be available by mid-August. This will also support evidencing of negative PCR Covid tests, as an alternative to proof of vaccination. The process of applying for and receiving hard copy certification is expected to take 10 days.
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