Last update: September 8th, 2021.
A nationwide poll showed overwhelming support by Australians for a COVID vaccine passport, which has now become a reality.
Vaccinated Australians can use their local COVID certificates to safely enjoy their summer, both in and out of Australia.
The Australian government has also announced that a standardized version of the Australian vaccine passport will become available in October, easing border restrictions along with it.
The date is set so that over 80% of Australians will have been double-jabbed by the time the government begins to issue the travel health certificates (both digital and paper). More details will be released soon.
To find out how to get a COVID certificate in Australia today, for local or travel use, keep reading.
How to get the Australian digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate
Only two vaccines have been approved by the Australian government: Pfizer or AstraZeneca. Moderna will soon become available as well. Fully inoculated citizens can receive a certificate to prove their vaccination status.
After receiving both vaccination doses, citizens automatically qualify to receive their vaccine certificate from local health authorities.
It is important to note that the applicant’s Medicare and MyGov accounts need to be linked to complete the process.
Services Australia general manager, Hank Jongen, explains just how simple the process is: “Link Medicare to your MyGov account. Once you’ve done that, download the app because that means the evidence is there in the palm of your hand.”
Those who do not have the mobile app can log on to the Medicare portal under the “My Immunizations” tab.
The Australian Immunization Register can also be accessed by your vaccine provider to generate the certificate.
Vaccine providers are required to log all vaccinations within 10 days but are encouraged to do it within 24 hours of inoculation, thus ensuring the certificates are distributed speedily.
What is on the Australian vaccine certificate?
Minister for Government Services Linda Reynolds explained that the certificate prioritizes the privacy of citizens and the details contained on the document are minimal.
Only the bearer’s name, surname, date of birth, and vaccine verification will be displayed on the pass.
“We’re also giving people control over the level of vaccination history they share, as the certificate only shows your COVID-19 vaccination status,” she said.
Public opinion on a COVID pass in Australia
Over 1,200 Australians were surveyed for this paper, titled Support for a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in the face of safety concerns and political affiliations: An Australian study.
Around 3 out of 4 Australians are in favor of having a vaccine mandate to travel, according to a nationwide poll published in the journal Politics.
73% of surveyed Australians think the government “should require a coronavirus vaccine for work, travel, and study,” although only 66% of respondents are willing to take a COVID vaccine.
88% of participants in Australia are convinced that “vaccines are safe, necessary and effective“. However, 70% of those more hesitant with a COVID jab have safety concerns due to the fact that these vaccines were developed too quickly.
According to the investigation, demographics matter when debating about coronavirus jabs: “Older, higher-income respondents [and those] who vote for major parties were all significantly more likely to take a coronavirus vaccine and to support government requirements.”
Health passport & Australian politics
In order to contain the spread of illnesses in Australia, the government implemented the “No Jab, No Pay” policy in 2015.
This initiative is meant to ensure “all children are fully immunized in line with the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule,” as it states the Australian Health Ministry on its website.
Failing to comply with this policy means the federal government can take away financial entitlements from citizens.
Is it safe to travel to Australia?
Australia’s borders are currently closed for COVID-19 safety. Tourists are not currently allowed to travel to Australia. Only Australian citizens, permanent residents and their family members can travel to Australia now.
Australia implemented some of the strictest COVID-19 regulations in the world, and it served the country well. Transmission came largely under control after the second wave in summer 2020, with daily new cases staying in the single digits for months.
However, the summer 2021 spike in travel and businesses reopening (crowned with the Delta variant) has caused the biggest COVID-19 wave yet in Australia, which is now registering a staggering 1500 new cases per day.
As of September 8th, 40% of over-16 Australians are fully vaccinated.