With all the talk of a covid-19 passport or “certificate”, there is already something you can do to prepare.

From a recent Times report, it looks like the passport will be built into the NHS app. This app, which is not the NHC Covid 19 app, is already available to users and it is quite fantastic!

It takes only a matter of minutes to install and register but you must be registered with a doctors’ surgery. It asks you for your NHS number and date of birth and verifies your e mail address for accuracy and also sends you your verification code via your mobile phone, and it can even be an international telephone number.

To confirm your ID it will ask you for a driving licence or passport which must be uploaded. You can take a photo and do it there and then. Finally it takes a scan of your face – it is a bit more picky about that and you need to hold the camera steady but all being well you will then be verified.

Up will come all your medical records and amongst these, yes your record of vaccination for Covid-19. To carry out your verification this way would be a bit cumbersome but in extremis the information is there. It is understood that the app is being modified to provide the vaccination certificate.

Wonderful!

Adrian Leopard 27-02-21

Photo Hakan Nural