Covid vaccine pass: Your questions answered and all the key details you need to know | Stuff.co.nz

Fully vaccinated New Zealanders with certificates on hand are set to have more freedoms this summer.

On Wednesday, the Government launched its vaccine pass, which allows New Zealanders to download proof of their first and second Covid-19 vaccinations.

The “My Vaccine Pass” will take the form of a QR code that can be shown digitally or on printed paper, allowing venues to check whether a person has been vaccinated against the virus or not.

The vaccine passes will be a very important tool under the new traffic light system which the Government aims to implement soon alongside high vaccination rates. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has urged all fully-vaccinated Kiwis to get their passes in preparation for summer.

READ MORE:* Covid-19: Freedoms shrinking for unvaccinated* Covid-19 live: My Covid Record website goes down following launch of vaccine passes* Covid-19 NZ: Vaccine passes launched, will be needed for 'extra freedoms' over summer* Covid-19: What you need to know about flying domestically this summer

“The pass will mean people will be able to do the things they love, like going to concerts and music festivals, nights out at bars and restaurants, and going to the gym and sports events,” he said.

How do I get My Vaccine Pass?

Once you are fully vaccinated, you can access My Covid Record, and make a My Health Account via the website. This will allow you to see your vaccination status and request a vaccination pass. You will need an email address, password and proof of identity (ie a driver's licence, passport or birth certificate) to make an account.

Your My Vaccine Pass will include your name, date of birth and a QR code. You can save this pass on a digital device, like your phone, or print a physical copy.

If someone has a temporary medical exemption, you can call 0800 222 478 to request a pass – you may be asked a few things to confirm your identity – such as your name and date of birth. For people with a temporary medical exemption, their details won’t be entered into the system until November 26.

What if I don’t have a smartphone, a computer or access to the internet?

For people without a smartphone or access to a computer, there is a helpline you can call – 0800 222 478 to request a My Vaccine Pass.

You need to have a National Health Index (NHI) code ready, or if you don’t have it, you may be asked a few questions to confirm your identity – such as name and date of birth. Someone can call for a person on their behalf, but they must have their permission.

Where will people need to use their pass?

Under the Covid protection framework/ traffic light system you will be required to show the pass as proof of vaccination status in a range of public settings such as events, hospitality, retail (which is an opt in arrangement), community, sport, and faith-based gatherings.

Where do you not need to show a pass?

Under the new protection framework, there are certain settings where denying entry on the basis of vaccination status will be prohibited.

You do not have to show proof of your vaccination status to access supermarkets, pharmacies, all health and disability services, food banks or petrol stations. Proof of vaccination is also not required in education settings, on all public transport (other than air travel), accessing housing and housing support services under state sector agencies.

For children under the age of 12, there is no requirement to show proof of vaccination.

Is there anyone who is unable to get a pass?

There are very few people that are unable to get a vaccine due to medical grounds. These people who apply through the Ministry of Health and receive a temporary medical exemption process will also be able to receive a vaccine pass.

When will booster shots be included in the systems?

People will be able to book a booster shot through Book My Vaccine from November 26. Once they’ve had a booster shot, it will show up in their My Covid Record along with their other doses

The date for a booster shot to be included as criteria for My Vaccine Pass as part of the definition of “fully vaccinated” is to be determined, requiring further advice.

How long is a pass valid for?

A person’s My Vaccine Pass is valid for six months from date of issue.

This is because booster shots may be required to ensure ongoing protection against Covid, and because medical exemptions are only valid for six months. If vaccination passes are still required after a pass has expired, you will need to request another one to prove your vaccinations are current.

What about privacy?

The vaccination certificates are created from data held in the Covid Immunisation Register that records your Covid-19 vaccinations. The vaccination certificate system has been designed to keep your details private with vaccination proof securely coded into the QR code.

What happens if you don’t have ID when signing up?

If someone has been vaccinated but doesn’t have an ID, they can call 0800 222 478 to request a pass. The ministry suggests that they have their National Health Index (NHI) code ready, but if they don’t have it, then questions will be asked to confirm the person’s identity.

What happens if you were vaccinated overseas?

According to the ministry, a process is being established to record Covid vaccinations administered overseas in the New Zealand Covid Immunisation Register. It can record all 23 vaccines that are approved as per the New Zealand entry requirements.

You must apply for this information to be included in your records, this will take up to 14 days and people will need to provide proof of the vaccines and dates administered so they can be entered into the Covid-19 Immunisation Register.

While all 23 vaccines can be recorded, these do not mean that you will be eligible for the My Vaccine Pass. At this stage, from the week of November 26, there are eight approved vaccines that can be used as proof of vaccine status when applying for My Vaccine Pass.

These vaccines are: Pfizer/BioNTech, Janssen (Johnson and Johnson), AstraZeneca (Oxford), AstraZeneca/Covishield (Serum Institute of India), Moderna, Sinopharm, Sinovac (CoronaVac) and Covaxin (Bharat Biotech).

Are international vaccine certificates available?

International vaccine certificates can be requested now. If you are using the call centre, it’s recommended you request a certificate a week or so before the date you intend to travel overseas. The certificates have an expiry date of one year. You should sign up for My Covid Record now to ensure you can create certificates and are ready to go.

How can I know that the international certificate will be accepted by my country of destination?

You should check the requirements of the country you’re travelling to and find out what proof of vaccination, if any, is needed. You will need to follow all the usual immigration processes and additional steps, such as pre-departure Covid-19 testing.

Consult the official website or the nearest embassy/consulate of your country or territory of destination to find out about any border controls that may apply to you before travelling.

How are international certificates different from My Vaccine Pass?

You will receive a separate QR code for your international vaccine certificate. These certificates will be recognised by international jurisdictions and are for travel purposes only.

How is this different form the Ministry of Health ‘Proof of Vaccine’ letter I requested and received?

If you’ve already received a vaccination confirmation letter from the ministry, you can still use this for international travel, but to ensure the country you are travelling to recognises your proof of vaccination status, the ministry recommends you request an International Travel Vaccination Certificate. The easiest way to request this is through My Covid Record.

Can I download the international certificate on my phone or is it print only?

Yes, you can receive a digital version via email that you can save on your phone. Please note that the international certificate cannot yet be added to Apple Wallet or Google Pay – you must either have the downloaded copy of the PDF on your phone or have printed a copy.