Covid-19: Vaccine technology not keeping up with jab rates

An ambitious plan for vaccine passports by the NSW Government could jeopardise the reoping of pubs and clubs when jab targets are reached.

Intergrating vaccine certificates into the NSW government’s Covid check-in app risks delaying the reopening of hospitality venues, as the jab rollout outpaces the technology.

Services NSW Minister Victor Dominello’s plan to merge the state government’s app with the Commonwealth’s existing Covid-19 vaccination digital document for entry into pubs and clubs will be trialled in early October.

But with 74.8 per cent of eligible adults having already ­received a first Covid-19 vaccine, the state is on track to hit the double dose threshold for starting to ease restrictions even sooner.

A mock up of what the digital vaccination passport would look like. Supplied

More than 3.5 million Australians have already accessed the certificate generated through Medicare proving they have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

This digital pass can be saved in an Apple Wallet format, and is how vaccinated NSW residents will be able to access activities like small group picnics in parts of Sydney from next week.

Initially the federal government aimed to keep the simple certificate system standard ­nationally, but after pressure from states demanding access to the vaccine data, is now working with NSW, Victoria and others on integration.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Services NSW app pilot was designed to ensure the technology works when certain venues reopen.

“We anticipate the product will be ready by the time we allow people into those venues,” she said.

Ms Berejiklian said the ­existing vaccine certificate did not have a check-in capacity.

“NSW is developing our own product where if you check in anywhere at those ­venues which only allow vaccinated people, you’ll also have your vaccination status pop up,” she said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australians were going to need vaccine certificates for international travel in the future, as well as other ­activities determined by states.

“People can get back on stage, restaurants can get back and open their doors to their patrons and be able to operate under much less restrictions,” he said.

“But those two things have to be enabled by the integration of that (vaccine certificate) technology and the QR code reader app.”

Some fully vaccinated Australians have reported being unable to access their Commonwealth certificate due to misspelt names and other human errors when entering data into the Australian ­Immunisation Register (AIR).

Originally published as Covid-19: Vaccine technology not keeping up with jab rates