Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE EU IS “a number of weeks” away from a common document that would act as proof of vaccination, with Irish health officials saying it is hoped that such a certificate could be physical or digital.
With increasing focus on Ireland’s mandatory hotel quarantine system, it is expected that HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre may soon advise that those who are fully vaccinated may be exempted from hotel quarantine.
If this were to happen, there would be a focus on the process whereby someone could prove they are fully vaccinated.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan is among those to note that there is currently no internationally recognised vaccine certification process, although some in government have suggested that Ireland need not wait for a common approach.
The European Commission has previously announced plans to introduce a travel certificate or ‘Green Pass’ to help restore freedom of movement but this has not yet been finalised.
Asked about the issue last night, Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said there is “ongoing work at EU level” around the development of a vaccine certificate and that Ireland was “actively involved in that process”.
Hopefully we will get to a point where we can have a common document or a common process through which we can be assured that when someone says that they’re fully vaccinated, that they are fully vaccinated.
He added: “I think the EU has indicated that we’re a number of weeks away from that at this point. So let’s see how things develop over the coming weeks, but hopefully it will offer opportunities.”
At present, people in Ireland who have received a Covid-19 vaccine receive a physical certificate confirming their receipt of a vaccine along with the date of when they got it and details of the vaccine type an batch number.
When Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccine implementation plan was released back in December it was noted that vaccine certificates could be delivered “physically, digitally or both”.
In a statement to The Journal, the Department of Health said it is the intention to “give people the choice” of a physical or digital cert when the EU system is finalised.
“Work is ongoing to develop a vaccine certificate suitable for use on all EU member states, based upon standards being developed by the EU. These standards will ensure the authenticity of certificates can be verified by other member states as restrictions are lifted and it becomes possible for EU citizens to travel again,” the statement said.
Ireland is actively participating in the development of these standards and in the process of developing certificates, in paper and electronic form, that meet these requirements. It is our intention to give people the choice of a digital or paper vaccination certificate and that these will meet domestic and international requirements.
‘Corona pass’
Last week, Denmark began requiring people to use a new Covid-19 certificate to enter certain businesses or face fines, becoming one of the first European countries to do so.
The programme is separate to the EU ‘Green Pass’ plan and will not be used for travel right away. Instead it grants access to hairdressers, beauty salons, tattoo parlours and driving schools.
The UK is also looking at similar plans but concerns have been raised by civil rights groups.
Ok the journal has mentioned snow so where’s the video of ya man falling on his arse?!
Tis slush at best! Any self-respecting snow’s gotta stick!
Could have picked a better time to switch on the vacuum cleaner!!!
Link to the guy slipping on ice. Never gets stale.
http://youtu.be/RZvCK2o6Zbo
It just had to be Meath, they are in a world of their own up there.
In Meath and all I see is rain :(
@ siobhan, That’s because you’re so hot it melts before it gets near you ;)
Niiice. Modern day Romeo right here
Smoooth Mark, very smooth…..
1 cm of snow in Ireland/ London: airports closed, no shops delivery, schools closed-total disaster. Oslo airport: 50 cm of snow and all flights on the time. Yes, it’s a big suprise in the last week of December you can see snow in North Europe… If the climate changes, all of us should expect winters in Ireland with average -20 C deg. (Like in continental Europe in 18 century-called “small Ice Age”-sun activity was very low). Baltic Sea was frozen per 12 months in a year and there was a pub on ice, in the middle of the sea. It may happen sooner than you think. Sciencists said it may happen in the next 10 years (they discovered sun activity becames very low lately). Anyway, Irish and Polish will survive here-a lot of good vodka and positive attitude let us survive :-D
Jaysis Amaciej. Did Santa not bring you that toy you wanted?
The records show that 2014 will have been the hottest year globally since records began.
As regards the freak cold some regions have experienced, I think meteorologists now understand that because the Arctic is warming much faster than the rest of the world, the warm air disrupts weather (eg the polar vortex), and that is what has caused the exceptional freezing weather we have seen channelled down to northern Europe and the US. All part o what is being called global ‘weirding’ of the weather.
We may be in for some of this if the correct confluence of conditions arise. But overall, the whole planet is warming at an alarming rate. Let’s hope we are all smart enough to push for that temperature rise to be kept as low as possible so we can avoid runaway climate change.
We get the wrong sort of snow apparently
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Loving it
White rain ,is all it is
Is there enough to build a snowman? Methinks not!
Maciej- well he can burn the coal santa gave him to keep warm when it goes to -20 – think of it this way Maciej u have a whole year to try be good to make up for last year
It’s not sticking though is it? Get it right up ya
It’s that fine snow that soaks ya through…
Its Snowing in Hucknall, Nottingham.
That’s up in Moylough, strange things happen up there
Wow snow who cares
have your say