Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1616. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to produce vaccine certificates as part of implementation planning for a Covid-19 vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14841/21]
View answerIt is important to differentiate between a vaccine certificate, the purpose of which is to provide evidence that a particular vaccine has been administered to a certain individual on a certain date, with the notion of an immunity passport which might exempt people from public health measures on the basis that the person is purportedly immune to SARS-CoV-2.
As well as providing a record of vaccination, vaccine certificates also facilitate follow up of adverse events. The HSE is planning for the production of vaccine certificates at part of its implementation planning for a COVID-19 vaccination programme.
Immunity passports are problematic on a number of grounds. It is not yet clear if the proposed vaccines for COVID-19 actually stop people getting the virus. It is also not clear whether the thresholds for protective immunity are the same in all groups e.g. older persons or those who are immunosuppressed. Thus, it is premature to discuss immunity passports due to the many uncertainties that still exist regarding immunity against the novel coronavirus. The WHO continues to caution governments against introducing immunity passports at this time.
On 17 March, the EU Commission published its proposal for Regulation for a Digital Green Certificate. This proposed regulation lays down a framework for the issuance, verification and acceptance of interoperable certificates to facilitate free movement. Ireland is carefully considering the proposal and its many policy, infrastructural and operational implications across a number of sectors and authorities.
