Practices could charge up to £30 a time to issue patients with vaccine certificates to enable international travel, it was reported today.
The certificates would not have the status of “vaccine passports” as they cannot guarantee immunity, a government minister. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said patients could ask their practice for written proof of vaccination. As with other documentation, practices will be allowed to charge fees ranging from £15 to £30.
The British Medical Association called for certificates to be automatically generated on patients’ on-line records. BMA GP committee chair Dr Richard Vautrey said: “Practices are working flat out successfully delivering the COVID vaccination programme while continuing to provide non-COVID care to many other patients. To prioritise this vital work, we need a reduction in bureaucracy and admin tasks. It would far better if all patients had easy access to their vaccination history electronically so that they are able to provide evidence of this without needing to request a letter from their surgery.”
Royal College of GPs chair Professor Martin Marshall said: “GPs are working hard to get as many patients as possible vaccinated as safely and speedily as possible. We cannot allow administration to get in their way.”
Mr Zahawi said: “If other countries require some form of proof, then you can ask your GP because your GP will hold your records and that will then be able to be used as your proof you’ve had the vaccine. But we are not planning to have a passport in the UK.”
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