While our country and the rest of Europe continue to advance in the vaccination plan against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), the reduction in the percentage of infections and deaths seems to open a door for hope , waiting for the long-awaited herd immunity to finally arrive.
But, while we reach numbers of vaccinated that make one dream of group immunity, the borders of many countries are beginning to open despite the pandemic, through different measures aimed at reactivating the economy and the tourism sector.
A good example is found in the popularly known as the COVID-19 passport , which has finally been baptized with the name of the European COVID digital certificate , which will come into effect on July 1. But what is it really about and how will it work?
What is the European Covid digital certificate?
The so-called European COVID digital certificate (or Digital COVID Certificate of the European Union) is a kind of health passport whose main objective is to facilitate freedom of movement during the coronavirus pandemic and contribute, above all, to a gradual lifting of the different restrictions carried out by different countries.
As we will know in detail in the next section, it will certify that its holder has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, or that a test (PCR or antigen test) has recently been carried out with a negative result, or that he has recovered from the infection in the last six months.
In practice, therefore, they will consist of three separate certificates . Of course, the common European framework will allow the different member states to issue certificates that will subsequently be accepted in all other countries of the European Union.
In addition, the regulation related to this digital certificate must be in force for a period of twelve months . Of course, it will not be a prerequisite for the exercise of the right to freedom of movement, and it will not be considered as a travel document.
It will be available from June 1, as long as the different member countries are in real conditions to start using it. Otherwise, the official entry into force is scheduled for July 1 . However, a transition period of six weeks will be established that will allow the different countries to adapt.
What information does this certificate contain exactly?
It is a certificate recognized and legible throughout the European Union, which will be issued digitally or on paper completely free of charge. In practice, they will be three separate certificates, which will differ depending on the information they contain.
Therefore, there will be a vaccination certificate, a certificate that specifies the result of the test, or a certificate where it is mentioned if the coronavirus has been had and, therefore, the person has been cured. In other words, it will collect three types of immunological data: vaccination test, negative PCR or antigen tests, and COVID-19 remission certificates.
The validity of the tests is not harmonized, so it is the decision of each Member State (currently they vary from 24 to 72 hours before arrival).
Regarding vaccines , the different Member States must accept vaccination certificates issued in other countries of the European Union to people who have not been inoculated with a vaccine approved for use in the EU by the European Medicines Agency . In other words, vaccination certificates for the following vaccines would currently be accepted: AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Janssen .
On accepted tests, it is possible to provide a positive PCR test to demonstrate previous infection (duration of immunity is set at a maximum of 180 days), although serological tests are not yet considered reliable enough.
In short, the certificate must indicate whether the person has been vaccinated, has antibodies, or is in possession of a PCR test or rapid antigen test .
In addition, only the necessary data will appear on the certificate , such as name, date of birth, date of issuance of the certificate, information related to the person’s personal situation (vaccination, negative tests or antibodies) and a unique identifier of the certificate.
How will it work?
The certificate, whether digital or printed, will have a QR code that contains an electronic signature that will confirm its authenticity, which can be read by all the countries of the European Union.
Therefore, it can be presented to the responsible authorities in digital format, on a smartphone, or printed on paper.
