Covid vaccine cert extended to Diaspora

Since early January, new certificates have issued to those who have received an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose in Ireland.

Following the successful extension of the Digital COVID Certificate service to Irish passport holders vaccinated outside of the EU, the service has been expanded to allow this cohort to apply for a new certificate to include their additional COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Since early January, new certificates have issued to those who have received an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose in Ireland.

Almost 2.8 million additional doses have already been administered in Ireland.

Welcoming this additional service, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: “My Department, working with teams across Government, have been delivering new vaccine certificates to all those who have come forward for their additional vaccinate dose in Ireland.

“We continue to be committed to our Irish people living outside of the EU and since September, have made it possible for those with Irish passports to access an EU Digital COVID Certificate. I am pleased that today we will expand that service to include additional doses.”

Applications will be accepted from individuals 18 years of age and older who hold a valid Irish Passport and reliable proof that they have received both a full primary course of vaccination and a subsequent booster dose of a vaccination type currently authorised for use in Ireland including:

•    Pfizer-BioNtech Vaccine (Comirnaty®)

•    Moderna Vaccine (Moderna®)

•    Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine (Vaxzevria® or Covishield)

•    Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Vaccine (Janssen®)

•    Coronavac (Sinovac)

•    Sinopharm BIBP

•    Covaxin

•    Novavax (Nuvaxovid)

The service will be accessible at covidcertificateportal.gov.ie.

The Minister of State for Public Procurement and eGovernment, Ossian Smyth noted: “As the pandemic has progressed, the EU DCC service has been a vital lifeline to Irish citizens at home and abroad in travelling across the EU as their needs arise.

“While we have been offering the service to Irish citizens abroad to support them during these challenging times for some time already, we are pleased to now update this service further so certificates are updated with booster vaccine information to facilitate Irish citizens’ travels across the EU during the months ahead.”

Minister for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy also welcomed the announcement on behalf of the Diaspora.

“This latest expansion of the EU Digital COVID Certificate application service for Irish passport holders abroad is a very welcome development and a demonstration of our commitment to our Diaspora. With access to updated EU-DCCs reflecting booster doses, it will be easier for our Diaspora to travel back to Ireland and maintain their links to home. This expansion will be warmly welcomed by Irish communities across the world.”