- Updated Digital COVID Certificates will now be issued to those who have received an additional vaccine dose from January 6th
- The process of issuing these certificates will take several days, and people are advised to check their email.
- This service is available ahead of the new EU rules which will come into effect from 1 February 2022, with a new 9-month maximum validity period for EU Digital Covid Certs based on a completed primary vaccination regime.
- Similar validity periods on vaccination certificates for domestic use (such as access to indoor dining etc) are not currently planned by the Government.
- The updated Digital COVID Certificate will contain a QR code, as before, and the certificate can be stored on the Covid Tracker App, replacing the old certificate.
- Following the first week of issuing, if eligible people have not received their updated certificate, they can use the online self-service portal at gov.ie/dcc
- There are several vaccine recipients for whom there are no email address details, these members of the public will be contacted and invited to apply for an updated certificate.
- Changes to the updated certificate can also be made using the online self-service portal.
- People can also request a certificate of recovery if recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months via online self-service portal
- The Digital COVID Certificate helpline was setup to provide the public with a service to request their EU Digital COVID Certificate. Since launching in July earlier this year, this service has been expanded to include several online self-service portals and more recently a WebChat channel.
- The expansion of this service to include multiple communication channels is in line with the Government’s commitment to the provision of accessible digital services.
New National Drugs Strategy
Minister for Drugs Jennifer Murnane O’Connor recently updated me in Seanad Eireann on the new national drugs strategy. Her new strategy is designed to respond to the significant changes in drug-use patterns in Ireland and to ensure equitable access to services across the country. The draft strategy proposes five strategic
