Currently in the Netherlands, if you want access to a large scale event such as a festival, you must first receive a negative coronavirus test result. However, after June 23, those who have been fully vaccinated will not have to be tested before entry.
Instead, they will show proof of vaccination using the CoronaCheck app, the NOS reports. Dutch Minister for Health, Hugo de Jonge, explained to the House of Representatives that the app will act as a vaccination certificate.
When a person has been vaccinated, the CoronaCheck app will generate a QR code. This code will then be scanned upon entry to the event — no negative test result needed.
Travel abroad without a test?
Minister De Jonge also wants to apply this method when it comes to international travel. Speaking to the House of Representatives, he claimed that by July 1, those who have been vaccinated may only need to show their certificate before travel — again, no PCR test required.
However, he was quick to point out that this may be difficult to achieve, as other EU countries would have to agree to this arrangement. “We strive for as much harmonisation as possible, but I do not rule out the possibility that we will eventually have to make bilateral agreements with some EU countries,” he said.
Some apprehension
There are a number of reasons why the EU may struggle to reach agreement on whether a vaccination certificate is enough to grant access to international travel.
Firstly, there’s the question of whether or not a vaccine certificate should be given straight after vaccination or 14 days after vaccination.
Protection against coronavirus is technically achieved 14 days after a person receives a shot. For this reason, some EU member states believe a person should still get tested if they wish to travel before the 14 days are completed.
The Netherlands argues that a person should receive their certificate immediately after vaccination.
Secondly, there’s the question of whether a person can travel when they have only received one shot of the vaccine (in cases where they need two). The Netherlands believes one shot should be enough to grant travel without a negative PCR test, other countries argue against this.
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