[ad_1]
From June 2021, so-called immunization passports or “digital green certificates” will be issued in the European Union. What rights does the vaccination passport grant us? How long will it be valid? Deutsche Welle summarizes what we need to know about him:
Who will receive a “digital green certificate”?
All people living in the EU, as well as all those who want to travel legally in the Community, will receive the certificate if they meet certain conditions. Nationality does not matter at all here. All EU member states, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway agree to mutually recognize the document in question.
What will the certificate certify?
The certificate will certify if the holder has been vaccinated and / or has already been subjected to COVID-19. Consequently, the document will provide information about the presence of antibodies in the body. It will also include data on whether the certificate holder has been tested negative for coronavirus by one of two recognized methods: PCR test or rapid antigen test. Tests carried out by the owner at home are not recognized as such. The certificate will be in the form of an electronic document with a QR code for a mobile phone or will be issued by the national health authorities on paper. EU member states can also recognize vaccines from China and Russia.
What rights will the “green certificate” grant?
Holders of this European certificate will be able to travel within the EU without having to present a negative COVID test result, they will not be subject to mandatory quarantine and will be able to travel freely and without giving a valid reason. However, member states may deviate from these rules if they justify themselves to the EC and coordinate their actions with it.
Will the certificate play the role of a passport?
No, this document will not replace a valid ID card or passport. Even without the certificate in question, European citizens will still have the right to travel freely and in the Schengen area even without border controls. But those who do not have the “green certificate” in question will likely have to undergo tests and risk quarantine.
What privileges will the document give?
Each member state will decide for itself what advantages the vaccination passport will offer to its holders. In Austria, for example, it will be associated with a visit to a restaurant, and in Greece, a night in a hotel. Other countries, including Germany, have yet to adopt similar rules. Airlines, theaters, organizers of concerts or other cultural events may require a certificate from visitors as a condition for issuing a ticket.
What about travel outside the EU?
The European Commission is working to ensure that the certificate is recognized worldwide to the extent possible. EU passports from third countries, such as Israel’s, are also expected to be valid in the EU, as well as to support identical WHO projects. In this way, it will be possible to travel between continents.
When will the vaccination passport come into effect?
This is scheduled for June 2021. Until then, all technical issues related to the new document must be resolved. The 27 Member States plus the four associated countries must develop their national certificates in parallel, which must be compatible. And because the “Immunization Passport” project will in practice be a separate law, the issue must go through the normal legislative procedure in each member state and finally be approved by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament. It may take years for all 27 member states to adopt and implement new laws. But this time it has to happen in a few weeks.
How will the “digital green certificate” be controlled?
The EC does not foresee the construction of fixed or systematic checkpoints at national borders, or at airports or train stations. It is up to the Member States to decide how to carry out this control. One possible solution is: unannounced inspections. Regarding visits to cultural events and restaurants or air travel, organizers and airlines may require passengers or visitors to show their vaccination passport.
What will be the validity of the document?
In people with COVID-19, the document will be valid for 180 days after treatment, but after vaccination the validity can be extended. It is not yet clear how long the passport will be valid after vaccination. A negative test ensures that the certificate is valid for only a few hours to a few days. Those who were vaccinated before June 2021 will also receive the certificate. After the WHO officially announces the end of the Kovid-19 pandemic, the vaccination passport will be revoked.
[ad_2]
