Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1798. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health when updated EU Digital COVID Certificates including the booster vaccinations will be made available for those who were vaccinated in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1855/22]
View answerThe EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU Digital COVID Certificate is proof that you have either been vaccinated against COVID-19 or received a negative COVID-19 test result or recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months.
The process to access Digital COVID Certificates reflecting booster doses through the third country portal is being developed and expected to available in the coming weeks.
On the 28 October 2021 the UK was awarded and equivalence decision by the EU meaning that COVID-19 vaccination, test and recovery certificates issued by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in accordance with the system entitled “UK COVID Certificates” shall, for the purpose of facilitating the right of free movement within the Union, be considered as equivalent to those issued in accordance with EU Digital COVID Certificate Regulation.
As such, vaccination certificates issued in Northern Ireland, in accordance with the system entitled “UK COVID Certificates”, are now considered as equivalent to EU Digital COVID Certificates without having to apply through the Irish portal.
