Last update: September 27th, 2021.
The United Kingdom (UK) launched the NHS Covid Pass as a part of the NHS app. The app allows users to access various features of the UK’s National Health Service.
The NHS Covid Pass shows the user’s COVID-19 vaccination status and test results. Over 66% of the UK’s population is fully vaccinated as of mid-September.
The UK COVID passport and the EU Digital COVID Certificate both launched in June. These COVID certificates eased the reopening of borders for summer 2021.
NHS Covid Pass app: domestic use
The NHS Covid Pass includes a “domestic” section for certain venues which may choose to require proof of full inoculation on a voluntary basis.
However, Health Minister Sajid Javid recently said that due to the government’s reluctance to add more COVID restrictions, the UK “will not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports”.
The Minister for Business & Industry and COVID Vaccine Deployment, Mr. Nadhim Zahawi, had announced in September that proof of vaccination would become required by law for nightclubs and other large indoor venues.
The scheme was being scheduled for the autumn season because, as Zahawi told the BBC, by that time all over 18-year-olds in the UK would have been offered the required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Venues in the UK which would have required a valid NHS Covid Pass for entry are:
- Nightclubs
- Large public events (festivals, concerts, sporting events…)
- Business events
- Large workplaces
- Universities
- Large shopping centers
Zahawi had explained in Parliament: “Nightclubs and other crowded, unstructured indoor settings – such as nightclubs and music venues […] or very large structured events, such as business events, music and spectator sport events, are the ones we are most concerned about.”
However, Scotland and Wales will go ahead with the plan to make COVID passes mandatory for entrance to nightclubs and certain events, starting on October 1st and 11th respectively.
Is the NHS Covid Pass accepted in the EU?
Over 30 EU countries including Spain, Greece and Malta are currently accepting the NHS Covid Pass.
A red, amber and green list provided by the UK government displays the countries where Brits can travel using the NHS Covid Pass. To indicate COVID risk zones, the UK uses a traffic light system similar to the one used by the European Union.
The UK’s vaccine passport can also be uploaded to the IATA Travel Pass to simplify travel with a wide variety of airlines.
The UK’s COVID app allows traveling without quarantine to certain countries during summer 2021. However, travelers are strongly advised to stay up to date on travel restrictions in their destination of choice.
Like the EU COVID Certificate, the UK COVID pass will simplify the verification of travelers’ immunity status in order to revive the tourism industry.
Advantages of the NHS Covid Pass
The pandemic has affected the UK economy. In fact, in 2020, the GDP dropped by almost 10% and 9% of the workforce was on partial or full furlough. Plus, the unemployment rate reached 5% and, unfortunately, it’s expected to reach 6.5% by the end of 2021.
Hence, the vaccine passports for UK citizens can be a means to recovery. Not just for sports fans or theater goers. But for travelers too.