The EU member states on Thursday adopted guidelines on proof of vaccination for medical purposes, under which vaccination certificates would be uniform so that they could be used in all member states.

The guidelines aim to support the interoperability of vaccination certificates, meaning the content of the vaccination certificates is uniform, and establish a minimum dataset for each certificate. Certificates can be in paper or digital form and must ensure rigorous protection of personal data.

“We need a common approach to vaccination certificates, and I am looking forward to continuing cooperation with the World Health Organization to scale up this tool at global level. Interoperable vaccination certificates will be an important tool for citizens during the pandemic but also after we have overcome it,” Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said.

Several weeks ago, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis proposed introducing a certificate of vaccination as a passport for free travel within the EU during the coronavirus pandemic.

All the countries agree about the need for such certificates, but say that they should be used only for medical purposes. Most of them think that it is too early to speak of such certificates being used for other purposes, such as travel, because too few people have been vaccinated and many still do not have access to vaccination. Also, there is still no proof that the virus will not be transmitted by people who have been vaccinated.