Long before even the beginning of the vaccination campaign, there were already discussions about the issue. Opponents argue that certificates would force people to get the jab and create inequities, while fans are looking forward to getting their basic rights back.
Not much is known at this point, except that the card would apply to three types of people: vaccinated, recovered or tested. To some extent these people already have proof of their status now: you can download your vaccination certificate on MyGuichet, and the results of Covid tests are sent by text.
With the vaccination card, these official certificates will be set up with QR codes or one time passwords. It is unclear at the moment whether these certificates will be sufficient as proof, or if there will be a special app, and if so, whether this data is automatically available in the app or has to be manually added.
It also hasn’t been determined who will be responsible for the process - the health department, the laboratories or MyGuichet.
There will definitely be an app for those who need to read the certificates - servers, cabin crew and so on. Also unknown at this point: how long that information will be stored in the app.
The certificates can be shown on a phone or printed out and carried with you. That way, people without smartphones are not disadvantaged.
Everything is more or less ready at the national level. Once it has government approval, the vaccination card could be introduced by mid June. Once a European solution is developed, the country could switch to that.
The EU hasn’t decided either whether there will be a simple certificate or an app. Whatever they choose, they want it to be harmonised across member states, allowing for free movement. This means that the Luxembourgish certificate will be valid throughout Europe.
The actual rights certificate owners will be granted will vary from country to country, however. Member states will be allowed some flexibility here depending on their local situation. This means that the vaccination card may allow you to go to a restaurant in one country, or even attend a festival in another.
Further details will be decided and implemented over the next few weeks.
