Here’s how to get your vaccine certificate

Vaccine certificates are now available to fully vaccinated South Africans – and accessing them is simple!

Although the South African Covid-19 Vaccine Certificate System was only officially launched on Friday, October 8, some citizens were lucky enough to download or print their copy during the week, while the National Department of Health was in the troubleshooting phase.

The digital certificate was rolled out just days after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced it would soon be available.

If you are fully vaccinated, you are eligible to receive the digital vaccine certificate containing a QR code.

The code, which can either be downloaded or printed, is not meant for general public use, but will instead be used by specific entities, using a specialised QR scanner.

During the testing phase, the department was inundated with public and media enquiries – showing just how much people wanted to get their hands on the certificate.

Its launch followed shortly after the much-anticipated announcement that South Africa was to be taken off the UK’s red list, giving keen travellers a double boost!

Why is a vaccine certificate needed?

Back in September, Ramaphosa said South Africa’s approach to the vaccine certificate is ‘informed by the World Health Organisation and in line with international best practice’.

He said a vaccine certificate or passport will streamline and standardise proof of vaccination and will go a long way towards getting a number of international travel restrictions eased.

Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla also previously said government was discussing compulsory Covid-19 vaccination for adults across the country, but later clarified that this was not a state priority.

Vaccine passports have already been introduced in other parts of the world. The European Union’s (EU) Digital Covid Certificate is available to all 27 members of the EU.

Meanwhile, the United States utilises digital health records stored on smartphones, while China implemented an international travel health certificate, and the UK has its own NHS Covid Pass.

Enquiries: https://sacoronavirus.co.za/
Also see: https://vaccine.certificate.health.gov.za/