Sweden, Austria, Denmark to Introduce Vaccination Certificate 

A standard vaccination certificate that would enable safe travel and allow countries to restart tourism is gaining ground with Sweden, Austria and Denmark being the latest to introduce the documents.

Earlier this year, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for a unified digital vaccination certificate to be used and accepted across the EU. The proposal was welcomed by aviation bodies, airlines, the European Commission and Council but ran into opposition by member states which cited issues of privacy as well as vaccination type and  effectiveness.

This week, Denmark announced plans for a “vaccination card” aimed at facilitating business trips. Sweden also said that it would be introducing a digital vaccination certificate by the summer.

Along the same lines, Austria said it was in favor of a single European vaccination certificate. “We support that there should be a pan-European vaccination certificate, based on the proposal made by Greece,” said European Affairs Minister Karoline Edtstadler.

“I am very pleased that Greece submitted the proposal for a single European coronavirus vaccination certificate, a proposal which Austria was one of the first countries to support, as mobility and travel are the key to stimulating economy after the pandemic is stopped,” she said.

Vienna, Austria

All the more countries, including Spain, Belgium, Iceland, Estonia, Poland, the UK, Romania, Seychelles, Thailand, Portugal and Cyprus are warming up to the idea of a standard vaccination certificate that would give people who have be vaccinated against Covid-19 the right to travel restriction-free. Earlier this week Greece and Cyprus agreed with Israel to allow admission to Israeli travelers holding a vaccination certificate. 

According to media reports, Cyprus, Estonia, Georgia, Iceland, Poland, Romania, and Seychelles are currently accepting visitors who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis clarified that Greece would be open this year to all visitors holding either a negative molecular Covid-19 test or a vaccination certificate when entering the country.