Come Monday, December 20, the Jamaican public will be able to download their digital vaccination card from the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ website.

This, as the ministry aims to update physical vaccination cards in an effort to make them more secure and convenient.

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Christopher Tufton, made the announcement last evening (December 15), at the latest in the ministry’s COVID Conversations press briefings.

The card will have a special feature called a QR code or quick response. This will enable the information on the card to be validated.

For those looking to travel, unlike the physical card, the electronic card will be accepted by airlines and countries across the world.

“This will now align us to global standards. And so we will be accepted by the airlines, accepted by the countries around the world and you can ultimately download this information on your phone and pretty much just show the coding on the phone and the information will be picked up, which will allow you access to the locations,” Minister Tufton explained.

Given the steady increase in vaccinated-only events, Tufton added that the electronic card will be convenient for attendees who have to present proof of their vaccination in order to gain access.

“This will make it easier and more verifiable, less likely to be fraudulent and I think it is a very good development. So we encourage Jamaicans (to download the electronic cards),” he explained.

During the conference, the Health Ministry shared an instructional video on how to utilise the software. Tufton stressed however, that the public will not be able to interact with the software until the date of its release December 20, 2021.

One has to complete four steps in order to access their electronic card. The steps are as follows:

• Step 1 – Visit vaxcert.moh.gov.jm

• Step 2 – Enter your mobile number to receive your on time password (OTP)

• Step 3 – Check your mobile for the OTP and enter it in the space provided.

• Step 4 – Check if the information on your certificate is correct. If the information is correct you can then click to download the certificate to your mobile device or print a physical copy.
• If the info needs to be updated click on the link and upload a picture of your vaccination card (front and inside pages), and a government issued ID or letter from a Justice of the Peace.
• In 72 hours visit vaxcert.moh.gov.jm and follow the instructions outlined.

The Health Minister shared that those who are not technologically savy, can visit their nearest health centre to receive assistance to access and download their code.

“For persons who are not technologically savy you can visit your health centre and get support to access your code and the downloading of your code. So its not gonna be all up to the techno savy to go online…that’s the primary option, but you can also get support at the health centre,” Tufton said.

All fixed vaccination sites will house a team of persons to assist the public in the printing of cards on request.

Tufton lauded his team’s effort on completing the project and highlighted the fact that the creation of the app is a progressive move on the country’s part, detailing several benefits the app will carry.

These benefits include the ability of the app to generate a new card on demand, the use of the card on any electronic device, ease of use for international travel as the QR codes will readable on all international platforms.

In addition to this the QR codes can be used by organisations that quickly need to validate a persons vaccination status without violating a person’s right to privacy.

The electronic cards can also be printed on normal, letter-size documents.

For more details, watch video below: