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Vaccine certificates: When we’ll get Them, and how they’ll be used

CAROLINE WILLIAMS

THE Government’s new Covid-19 framework relies heavily on vaccination certificates, but how the certificates will work remains unclear.

Many countries have had vaccine certificates for much of 2021. Some, such as Denmark, have even stopped requiring their use domestically due to gaining a degree of control over the virus.

But New Zealand, which started its vaccine roll-out in February, is yet to put vaccine certificates in the hands of the 2.9 million Kiwis who have had their shots so far.

Dr Andrew Chen of the University of Auckland’s Koi Tu¯ – Centre for Informed Futures said we’re running out of time.

‘‘You kind of want people to be able to access and generate a vaccine certificate before they get to red [on the traffic light system] – so that people aren’t wandering around trying to get into places without a vaccine certificate because they haven’t had time to get one.’’

The ‘red’ step of the new traffic light system will allow New Zealanders much more freedom than the current system’s alert level 4.

But these freedoms will be only granted to those with vaccine certificates, while the unvaccinated and venues who do not use vaccine certificates will be left in conditions similar to alert level 3.

The certificates, including for domestic and international use, are anticipated to be available from the My Covid Record website from mid to late November, Ministry of Health group manager of national digital services Michael Dreyer said.

‘‘The exact timing for when and where vaccination proof will be required are still being finalised.

‘‘We are also consulting with the business, hospitality and events sectors on the finer details of how it will work.’’

So far, it has been confirmed businesses will use a verifier app to scan a QR code that can be printed or displayed on a smartphone.

Dreyer said the verifier app will ensure the certificate’s validity, but will not retain any personal details on the businesses’ device.

Places requiring proof of vaccination under the new framework could include events, sport and faith-based gatherings, and retail and hospitality businesses. There will be an exemption process for those who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons to get certification.

Proof will not be required at supermarkets, health services, food banks and petrol stations.

Under 12s, who are currently unable to be vaccinated, will not need a certificate.

International certificates for travellers will include more personal information to be in line with overseas certification requirements.

Chen, who has closely followed digital contact tracing and vaccine certification efforts globally, said QR codes were ‘‘reasonably tamperproof or fraud

proof’’, with only the Ministry of Health able to generate valid codes, quashing the aspirations of anyone thinking they could get away with a fake.

He expected the only information visible on the verifier app would be the certificate holder’s name and something akin to a green tick or a red cross, and that businesses would be required to ask for photo ID.

‘‘That photo ID check is supposed to be there to make sure that you are the person who matches this particular QR code.’’

Chen believed the verifier app would not be used by the Government as an enforcement mechanism.

That could be a matter for police and Work Safe to conduct spot checks.

‘‘The strictness of the enforcement is probably a bit questionable at this stage, we will have to wait and see what the policy says.’’

He added that as ‘‘a country of narks’’, New Zealanders might act as an enforcement body anyway, as demonstrated by several highprofile Covid restriction breaches.

‘‘Consumers hopefully will generally have a choice. If they can see that a business is not checking vaccination certificates when they should be, and it’s something that they care about, maybe don’t go to that business.’’

Olivia Lund, health and safety expert and partner at law firm Duncan Cotterill, said policing vaccine certificates would likely be an onerous task for businesses, as a staff member would need to check each customer as they come through the door.

Businesses would likely be able to display signs to show they require vaccine certificates and to let shoppers know they are entering a fully vaccinated site.

The new framework would be one of the biggest upheavals of workplace regulations in recent history, Lund said.

The Government needed to

define what type of businesses should use vaccine certificates. Businesses needed at least six weeks notice to prepare, which included working out which staff still needed to be vaccinated.

Lund added that there may be

equity issues as not everyone had access to a smartphone, internet or a printer to retrieve their QR code.

The Ministry of Health’s Dreyer said feedback received so far had indicated the My Covid

Record website was ‘‘very easy to use’’.

‘‘However, for those who don’t have internet access or require alternative accessible options, we will be providing alternative solutions.’’

8 SUNDAY NEWS NEWS

en-nz

2021-10-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-10-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281715502820124

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