Experts broadly positive about digital vaccination certificates
While the details were sparse, Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said that the certificates will become available in “just over a week or so”.
He also explained that government was providing a “platform” or “facility” with the certificates. It would be up to universities, employers, sporting organisations and others to decide whether or not to make use of the platform to limit access based on vaccination status.“We will not interfere with institutions’ internal policies. The aim is not to punish anybody, but to protect each other,” Phaahla said.
Spotlight asked the department of health for more information. Foster Mohale, the department’s spokesperson, said prior to the press briefing that the matter was still under discussion and that a public announcement would be made in the next week or two once all the systems are ready.Andy Gray, a senior lecturer in pharmacology at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said he welcomed the chance to have electronic and secure documentation of vaccination that was compliant with the WHO’s standards.
“It is only viable once there is a high level of access to vaccination. It can be used appropriately as an incentive [to get vaccinated] ... but care must be taken to avoid it being used in a discriminatory way, especially against those denied access to vaccination,” he said.Safura Abdool Karim, a public health lawyer, was also in favour of the certificate. She said it was an important first step in being able to verify someone’s vaccination status in real-time.
She cited several benefits, including improved vaccination uptake which would prevent serious illness, hospitalisation, and death. This, in turn, said Moodley, would reduce strain on the healthcare system and improve the safety of healthcare workers. It would also allow healthcare facilities more space to treat non-Covid patients.
She added that in the extremely rare case that someone was not able to be vaccinated against Covid-19 for a medical reason, regular Covid-19 tests could be required to access indoor or high-risk venues.
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