Vaccination included in app from June 23, hopefully ready for travel by July 1

People who have been vaccinated against coronavirus will be able to use the CoronaCheck-app to attend ‘test for entry’ events from June 23, healthcare minister Hugo de Jonge told MPs on Wednesday.

The app will be able to show the user has been vaccinated from that date, as well as prove they have had a negative coronavirus test at one of the special ‘test for entry’ locations nationwide.

At the moment people have to show they have had a negative test to go to a festival or sports event, but from June 23, vaccination will also be enough for admittance. The person checking the app will only be able to see user’s date of birth and initials and will not know if they have been vaccinated, had a negative test or recently had coronavirus.

One week later, from July 1, the app will also be able to be used to travel abroad – if final agreement is reached between EU member states. The European parliament voted in favour of introducing the EU app on Wednesday.

‘We are striving for harmonisation, but I do not rule out eventually making bilateral agreements with some EU states,’ De Jonge said.

Protection

For example, some member states are insisting that the vaccination be carried out at least 14 days before travel because then they will offer the best protection.  The Netherlands, however, considers vaccination should give almost immediate access to abroad. It also says one dose should be enough to travel.

The Netherlands is also keen to raise the infection rate to qualify for a green risk rating to 75 per 100,000, NOS reported. The figure is currently 25 per 100,000 and the Netherlands is currently at around 200.

EU ministers are due to meet in Luxemburg next week to finalise details for the digital coronavirus certificate. It would then have to be approved by parliament before it can be put into practice from July 1.