Today many countries in the world are discussing the issue of vaccination certificates, or “covid” or vaccine passports as the mandatory requirement to the entry to another country.
This certificate, according to its supporters, can encourage citizens to get vaccinated and will lift some lockdown restrictions. However, WHO is not in a hurry to introduce this mandatory requirement to travellers.
It is only the European Union that introduced the single digital vaccination certificate and it helps the residents of 27 European Union countries and the Schengen area to travel within the Union. In other countries of the world, citizens can receive an online vaccination certificate via public online services, including in Kyrgyzstan.
The number of vaccinated Kyrgyzstanis as of July 15 is more than 144 thousand citizens. This number is still the lowest among other Central Asian states.
Let’s see what a vaccine passport is and what it is for. We’ll also see how to receive it and if it’s true that you won’t be allowed into another country without the vaccination certificate.
This is the certificate issued to the people who were vaccinated against the coronavirus infection. The document contains information about the vaccinated person, dates of vaccines and name of the vaccine. The certificate may be issued in two forms – electronic and paper. Usually, it contains a barcode to verify the information provided in it.
It can help lift some restrictions valid during the emergency. For example, it gives the right to the vaccinated citizens to visit crowded places without any restrictions.
For tourists, vaccination certificates open borders. Some countries accept vaccinated tourists without a PCR test. These countries are: Georgia, Romania, Maldives, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Croatia. Greece, Israel, Portugal, Seychelles, Estonia, Spain and Thailand are intending to open borders to vaccinated travellers.
In early 2021, the World Tourism Organisation expressed its positive opinion about the issue of “vaccine” certificates. Similar gesture, according to the organisation, can develop the principle of safe travels amid COVID-19.
Yes, the ministry of health issues such certificates. On June 28, the health ministry reported officially that the republic launched the online service for getting the COVID-19 vaccination certificate. The document contains information about vaccination and QR code that validates the authentic information.
The Kyrgyzstanis can get a certificate of vaccination in the following procedure:
- Visit the state portal of electronic services of Kyrgyzstan and log in via the cloud electronic signature or eID.
- Choose the section “Health” and service “Issue Covid-19 vaccination certificate” on the website.
- Click “Apply” to get the certificate.
- The document will be automatically ready and will contain the QR code. It can be printed out or saved as PDF immediately.
According to the health ministry, development of the module in the “Register of vaccinated persons” information system that will be issuing Covid-19 vaccination certificates to the Kyrgyzstanis and foreign citizens is in its final stage. It will allow health facilities to issue certificates and will become an alternative to citizens who have problems with the remote receipt of the certificate.
Yes, probably you will. Currently, the state authorities, namely the health ministry, and mobile service providers (MegaCom, O!, Beeline) are developing services to arrange the issue of digital vaccination certificates via mobile apps of mobile service providers.
The parties are planning to set up the sharing of data regarding electronic certificates. Citizens who are identified users of mobile service providers can get digital vaccination certificates.
Today, health ministry recognises vaccination certificates issued by 20 countries: United Kingdom, Hungary, Qatar, Israel, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Korea, Poland, San Marino, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Romania, USA, Turkey, Germany, France, Switzerland, as well as certificates issued by the European Union – Medical Service of the Union in Brussels.
According to the Republican Headquarters to fight coronavirus infection, tourists do not necessarily have to have such a certificate. Foreigners may enter the country if they test negative for Covid-19.
In Kazakhstan, the electronic vaccination certificate became available since April 6 in the mobile app “eGov Mobile”. It contains information in three languages: which vaccines the person got, dosages and dates.
The document can be produced to whom it may concern, and access can be provided via the QR code. However, the certificate is available to the Kazakhstanis only after administration of the second dose of the vaccine. From June 1, the vaccination certificate became available in paper format.
In Uzbekistan, residents started to get electronic Covid-19 vaccination certificates one week later than Kazakhstan – from April 14. Vaccinated citizens can get the certificate online via the Unified portal of interactive public services.
No information is available about the issue of vaccine certificates in Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
The first to introduce vaccination certificates was China. Thus, Wechat, the Chinese messenger, launched the certification programme for travellers. The document contains information about the Covid-19 vaccination, as well as antibodies after the infection.
This certificate is required for trips on public transport, whereas locals use the document in a paper format for travels abroad.
The certificate is meant for trips on public transport both within the country and abroad. Chinese citizens can also get the vaccination certificate in hard copy for international travels.
On July 1, the European Union introduced “Covid” certificates in electronic format – EU Digital COVID Certificate or EUDCC. This system is free of charge. This document enables the EU residents to travel within 27 countries of the Union. The certificate contains information about vaccination, Covid-19 test data and antibodies data. The details are encrypted in the QR code and contain digital signature of the issuing authority.
So far, tourists who are vaccinated with the vaccines registered in the European Union – Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, as well as vaccines approved by WHO, can travel to the European Union.
The countries of the European Economic Zone (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland are also planning to embed their certificates that will be consistent with the EU certificates.
No, there will be no restrictions for unvaccinated tourists. If necessary, they will need to meet the restrictions, including tests and quarantine. The Europeans are planning to use rapid antibody tests for foreigners.
Not necessarily. It is enough to have a negative PCR test available in the app “Covid-free travelling”. The test should be taken not earlier than 72 hours before the departure date.
If you received both doses of the coronavirus vaccine at least 14 days before the departure, you will need to present the electronic certificate confirming the vaccination at the border. Currently, Russia recognises the WHO-approved vaccines, as well as Russian vaccines Sputnik V, EpiVacCorona, CoviVac, and Sputnik Light.
It is unknown so far. But the European Union countries say that the document will be valid during the pandemic. The Europeans will be guided by the World Health Organisation’s declaration on the end of public health emergency.
Unfortunately, there are. Today we know about cases of fake vaccination certificates in Kazakhstan – 4 criminal cases by the end of June – and in Russia.
These countries provide for the punishment for falsification of this document. According to the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, falsification of the vaccination certificate involves a fine in the amount of 5.8 million tenge (13.4 thousand dollars) or correctional tasks or community works, or restraint of liberty or imprisonment for up to two years.
The use of the fake vaccination certificate involves a fine in the amount of 466.7 thousand tenge (1,091 dollars), or correctional tasks or community works, or detention for 40 days.
It is reported that the cost of fake “vaccine” certificates in Kazakhstan varies from 10 to 30 thousand tenge (20.5 to 70.5 dollars).
In Russia, the main directorate of the interior ministry in Moscow initiated 24 criminal cases over fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates, 3 of which were brought to trial. The swindlers sold vaccination certificates for 4-5 thousand roubles (54-67 dollars) in average. One year in prison is provided for the purchase of a fake certificate, and 2 years for the use of a fake QR code.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of World Health Organisation, said on July 2 that vaccine certificates should not lead to discrimination of other countries where particular vaccines are in shortage.
“Some countries and regions have introduced the so-called vaccine certificates and I want to clearly state that it is important that they do not lead to discrimination against the people and countries who have no vaccines or particular type of vaccine. WHO issues lists of vaccines used in emergencies after strict assessment of safety and efficiency, and we expect that all countries will recognise and approve the vaccines approved by WHO,” he said.
Back in April, the WHO Emergency Committee recommended the countries not to require proof of vaccination as a condition of entry to a country. International organisation in its report asked to take into account information about vaccine efficiency and shortage of particular vaccines in some countries. This gesture, according to WHO, can exacerbate discrimination.
At the end of June, Google said that soon Android will be able to store and access reliable data about Covid-19 vaccination. Medical organisations will be able to create digital versions of vaccination via APIs, which will be then stored on users’ smartphones.
According to Google, it was initially going to introduce this feature in the United States before distributing it to other countries. The records will be stored locally on the user’s device.
Main photo: TASS
This publication was produced as part of the mentorship programme under the Development of New Media and Digital Journalism in Central Asia project delivered by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) with support from the UK Government. It does not necessarily reflect the official views of IWPR or the UK Government