Australians to get Covid-19 vaccination certificate

A Covid-19 vaccination certificate is set to be rolled out within days, with authorities hoping the move will incentivise Aussies desperately wanting to travel.

The Covid-19 jab certificate could be presented to governments or businesses which moved to require proof of vaccination. Picture: AFP

Australians who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will receive a certificate, paving the way for governments and businesses to enforce tough rules on those who are not ­inoculated.

The certificate will be available securely through the Medicare app – and eventually added to digital wallets on ­mobile devices – as the federal government pushes ahead with the plan to help incentivise Australians to get the jab.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants fully-vaccinated Australians to be able to bypass state travel restrictions, although the national cabinet is yet to agree, while businesses could seek to use the certificate to withhold services from those who refuse the vaccine.

The Herald Sun understands some federal Liberal MPs are concerned about any government push for Australians to require a vaccine certificate to travel freely.

Opposition government services spokesman Bill Shorten said: “Australians deserve to know when there will be a vaccine certificate system and exactly what they will be used for.”

Australians who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will receive a certificate. Picture: Getty Images

The certificate will feature a holographic Australian coat of arms, animated green tick and real-time digital clock, along with a unique document number and the personal details of the vaccine recipient, making it impossible to fraudulently reproduce.

Government Services Minister Linda Reynolds said the new record made it “easy” for people to show their Covid-19 vaccination status.

“The Covid-19 digital certificate makes proof of vaccination accessible anytime, anywhere,” she said.

An example of the digital certificate.

“We’re also giving people control over the level of vaccination history they share, as the certificate only shows your Covid-19 vaccination status.”

Some state leaders have criticised the plan, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian declaring free movement in Australia should not be contingent on the vaccine.

Speaking after last Friday’s national cabinet meeting, Mr Morrison said how the certificate was used was up to the states and territories, such as allowing vaccinated Australians to bypass border closures caused by lockdowns.

The Covid-19 jab certificate could be presented to governments or businesses which moved to require proof of vaccination. Picture: Michael Marschall

“There is simply the opportunity for them to take this up if they wanted to provide an exemption in those circumstances where people had their vaccination in place,” he said.

After some mixed messaging about the proposed certificate, Services Australia bureaucrats confirmed at a Senate hearing last Friday that it would be rolled out within days. Australians are already able to see their immunisation history through the Medicare app, but the Covid-19 jab certificate will strip away other private information so that it could be presented to governments or businesses which made proof of vaccination a requisite.

Opposition assistant government services spokeswoman Kimberley Kitching said the government “spins like a whirling dervish” and “couldn’t get their story straight” about the plan.

Ms Reynolds said that once a person’s GP or the clinic where they received their second dose reported the full vaccination to authorities, the certificate would be immediately accessible through the myGov or Medicare apps.

Services Australia centres will also be able to print out hard copies.

It comes as an Essential poll shows the proportion of Victorians who believe the vaccine is being rolled out effectively has crashed from 67 per cent in March to 37 per cent this week.

There is particular concern among respondents about the pace of inoculating aged-care residents and workers.

Of those worried about delays, 58 per cent of Victorians blame the federal government and 21 per cent blame state governments.