St Kitts and Nevis starts giving "digital vaccine cards"

The government of St Kitts and Nevis started moved the vaccination cards access easily by shifting to online platforms. Now, fully vaccinated individuals can download their COVID-19 vaccine cards digitally.

Minister of Health and Information and Communication Technology Akilah Byron-Nisbett announced while explaining the entire process. She said that the digital vaccine cards consist of a quick response (QR) code or barcode that enables access to information directly. The QR code also works as a further security feature.

Explaining the process, Minister Byron said people who already have a vaccine card must take it to the Innovation Hub at the National ICT Centre, where each person will be given a URL and UID (Unique Identification Number), and by logging on the URL, people can fill the access form and simply get the vaccine card in digital form.

She said all digital vaccine cards contain a QR code that leads to real-time information about whether the person is vaccinated.

Minister said the unique QR code prevents fraud with people who are not vaccinated but trying to replicate the cards.

"This would give us the added security that if that QR code does not fit our record, then you can not pretend as if you were vaccinated," said Minister Byron-Nisbett.

Minister Byron-Nisbett said each country is developing its ways to raise vaccine status, and St Kitts and Nevis is not different either. She noted that once a country determines how its vaccination information is delivered, it is then shared with the relevant bodies.

Minister said the information could be used by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to disseminate to the various countries that indicate the vaccination record status card, be it digital or otherwise.