Q: I’m double-jabbed and I’ve had my booster jab but it doesn’t show on the NHS Covid app, so how do I prove I’ve had it?
UPDATE: 19 November
English holidaymakers will be able to show their booster jabs via the NHS Covid-19 app from today Friday 19 November opening up travel to those countries that demand the third jab for entry.
UPDATE: 15 November
- Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, has hinted that the booster jab may well appear on the NHS Covid pass. “We are looking hard at it” he said but made no commitment to timing. More details soon
- France will require proof of a booster jab for over 65s to enter many venues from December 15th
- Israel demands two doses within the past 180 days or a top-up jab
—-
More and more travellers are edging closer to the expiry dates of their vaccinations. Some countries including Croatia and Austria, are particularly alert to this and will exclude entry to those people whose vaccinations have expired.
Vaccinations are considered to provide immunity for 270 days. However, Austria has extended this to 360 days. Croatia will let you in if you take a test on arrival and quarantine until a negative test can be shown.
The booster jab would solve that problem but there is no way of proving that you have had it. Currently, the NHS app does not have a facility to show this and there is no acceptable documentation you can show either.
This only becomes a problem when the country you are visiting stipulates that you cannot enter after their expiry date. If more countries decide to put this measure into place then British holidaymakers looking to get away over the winter months may well find themselves excluded.
The irony is that after a lot of too-ing and fro-ing by the EU about the validity of the NHS Covid pass system, it has finally been recognised EU-wide as proof of vaccination with AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer.
The decision not to include the booster jab on the NHS Covid pass is perplexing and this was a decision taken by the Department of Health.
Clifton Maurice, a frequent traveller, is worried that he will be excluded if more countries decide to adhere to time limits.
I’m now worried about booking anything in case I have to cancel my travel plans because I can’t prove I’ve had my booster. It’s just silly that the booster jab is not being shown on the NHS Covid app.
The Department of Health says it will be reviewing the situation, and we will keep you posted.
20 comments
What’s the point of not being able to prove the booster vaccination? It makes the whole scenario of having the first 2 vaccinations a waste of time if you have to travel? Let’s hope the government will allow the booster to be added to the NHS app very soon!!
This doesn’t answer the question – we know the app is useless – so HOW do we prove we’he had a boster jab?
I echo the frustration of your correspondents but even worse , having rung 119 and taken a good twenty minutes to find a person.. I was told it would take 14 days for the booster to be shown on the record.. as the DOH has not authorised this yet , this is clearly nonsense!
Mass protest via email to The Minister? Who knows
Had my booster jab on the 9th December but got no card to say I’ve had it what now
IT should show on on the NHS app ,ridiculous that it doesnt
Can you get a letter from your doctor on surgery headed paper confirming the booster jab?
Can I obtain a booster confirmation for my self and partner we had our booster jabs at Brandon county Durham on 25th of October 2021
Israel is allowing visitors to enter if their vaccinations were taken within 180 days. Thereafter you must show proof of your booster jab. From today the booster jab will appear on the NHS app for the English and from 29 November for those living in Wales.
Another example of complete incompetance by Boris and his cronies, yet we the public pay for it time and time again. Why can’t we do away with politicians and have seasoned business professionals in charge of our country for a change.
We are desperate to get a proof of the booster as we are travelling abroad in a week time and without the booster proof we may not be granted entry! Why on Earth can’t we get such certificate??? It doesn’t make any sense
Actually, It does show up on the NHS app if you open your GP health record and then select ‘immunizations’. All three doses and the dates they were given should then be recorded.
Why it’s so complicated I’ve no idea.
Hi Stephen it needs to appear on the Covid Pass too.
That only applies if your GP has allowed access to that area. Mine does not. And it’s not authorised even then just as the first two weren’t
Of course the app should show the booster jab and it’s recording could have been easily accommodated. This will only feed conspiracy theories! Time is of the essence as France is including the requirement from the 15th of December for access to restaurants and ski lifts for over 65’s and most people will have booked holidays by now. They already face disappointment and financial loss. Perhaps Boris is hoping to cancel Christmas again! As to the suggestion of showing the record of immunizations this is a non starter. France, for example, requires evidence via a bar code which has to be scanned!
My GP had no idea this was the case. The county NHS had no idea this was the case. I eventually was given a number for those who look after the systems and was told it wasn’t designed to record more than the first two doses.
Possible reasons :
i) Incompetent IT staff. The big consultancy firms outsource work overseas, pay a pittance and charge the government a fortune for each hour. British kids are no longer really into IT, despite it still being a very lucrative field to work in.
ii) Incompetent NHS management. A completely top heavy organisation that has wandered far from its purpose of providing good medical care. Lagging farther and farther behind other industrialised countries, especially in Europe, but costing more and more each year. A failed system.
iii) Incompetent government Despite the risks of going early in the vaccine rollout we’ve now been overtaken by pretty much everyone else.
All of the above comments are completely understandable. Incompetence s hardly the appropriate word!
We get evidence of it (or dishonesty, ignorance, indifference etc) daily, so we should now be inured to it.
This will not encourage people to get the booster – if they cannot show proof they have had one. Surely this needs to be shown on the COVID PASS.!!! Lets give this incentive to get more people to get the booster jab.
I need to travel to Israel but due to the non showing of the booster jab has created major problems because they are very strict on covid vacs and digital proof. Any suggestions would be apprecaited
I quite agree, I read that after we had the booster leave it for about 2 weeks and we could get the pass from NHS I applied for my husband and myself and they sent me exactly the same certificates that i had for the first 2 jabs, what it took to do that must have cost money what is going on.
I had my booster jab in November, but it still does not show that I have had it, this is the same for my husband who had his a few weeks later. Still getting letters from the NHS saying that we need to have our booster jab. We both have our cards saying that we have had these, but still nothing is showing up that we have had them.