Covid-19: NI vaccine passport could go live by early July

A paper-based vaccine "passport" could be available in Northern Ireland as early as 5 July, the Department of Health has said.

According to a statement, the initial specialised hard copy format will go live by 19 July at the latest.

The department says this will provide alignment with processes in the Republic of Ireland.

It has also been announced that 16 areas have been added to Northern Ireland's green list for travel.

Malta, the Balearic Islands - including Majorca and Ibiza - and Barbados are among the areas that will come on to the list from the early hours of Wednesday, 30 June, meaning people can travel to and from those places without having to quarantine as long as they provide proof of negative Covid-19 tests.

The department's vaccine passport announcement is aimed towards the goal of having an internationally-recognised form of proof that a person has had both vaccine doses.

It is expected the process of applying and receiving the hard copy certification will take 10 days.

The certificate will incorporate counterfeit protection measures, requiring a specialised printing process.

Dan West, the Department of Health's chief digital information officer, said the certificate would "complement the UK's existing traffic light system for international travel".

"While final decisions have still to be taken on how and when these vaccine certificates will be used, they are expected to make foreign travel easier for people who have had both doses.

"Governments and businesses may also decide to use them in other circumstances, such as access to events and activities.

"Such decisions have still to be made here in Northern Ireland and elsewhere."

A digital format is expected to be available by mid-August. It will support evidence of negative PCR tests, as an alternative to proof of vaccination.

Mr West said Northern Ireland's lack of a pre-existing health service app meant the department was "building our system from scratch".

No part of the health service in Northern Ireland, including GPs and vaccination centres, could provide proof of vaccine to the required standard for travel purposes.

The travel news comes after it emerged earlier that anyone over the age of 18 could now book a Covid-19 jab at any of Northern Ireland's vaccine centres.

The centres had been focused on vaccinating those aged between 18 and 39, with over 40s only able to get the jab at community pharmacies.

The centres are using the Pfizer vaccine for first doses. A scheduled increase in Northern Ireland's Pfizer supply has allowed for more appointment availability

Dr Patricia Donnelly, head of Northern Ireland's Covid vaccination programme, said that while 80% of the adult population had received their first dose and 60% their second dose "there's more to do and the elta variant identifies what we have to do".

"We're trying to pick up the pace for that, because, while it's reassuring to hear there's no rise in serious illness, we should not take any of this for granted," she added.

She said while 50% of under 30s had been vaccinated "it has very definitely slowed".

"Every Thursday we'll release over 20,000 slots. In the first couple of weeks a lot of those were booked out in a day or two and then last week a bit slower than that and we're concerned that we're getting fewer people coming forward," Dr Donnelly said.

"Each trust is looking at where they could have opportunities to set up a mobile clinic and vaccinate these younger people."

She said there was also concern that some people in the 40-49 age group had still not come forward for their vaccine.

In a separate development, enhanced testing sites are to be set up in areas of Castlewellan, County Down, and in Londonderry after "a number of probable cases of the Delta variant were identified", the Public Health Agency (PHA) has said.

The PHA's Dr Bríd Farrell said it was a "precautionary measure" and asymptomatic people aged 18-40, from selected targeted neighbourhoods, would be asked to come forward for testing.

"By slowing the spread of the virus, this allows us to get more people in the community vaccinated and get protected against Covid-19 which is effective against the Delta variant," Dr Farrell said.

Two mobile testing units are located at Derry's Templemore Sports Complex and at Glendermott Church of Ireland.

A drive-through testing facility is also available at the Lycra company car park and a walk-in facility has been set up at Ulster University's Magee Campus on the Northland Road.

Those being asked to come forward for testing will be contacted, by post, from Friday.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Robin Swann said he has been contacted by people over the age of 40 who wanted to book their jab in a vaccine centre.

"The vaccination programme has already reached about 80% of 40-49-year-olds," said Mr Swann.

"I believe today's announcement will help push that figure up even higher."

The minister urged everyone to come forward for their jab as soon as possible, adding: "The emergence and spread of the Covid-19 Delta variant demonstrates that the virus remains a serious threat."

Northern Ireland has seven trust-run vaccination centres, located in Belfast, Londonderry, Omagh, Enniskillen, Craigavon and Ballymena.