NHS app vaccine record: how are Covid vaccinations recorded in the app for travel passports?

Those planning to jet off abroad can now use the NHS app to prove their Covid vaccination or negative test status before they fly.

But how are Covid-19 vaccinations recorded and how does the app work?

Here’s everything you need to know.

How are COVID vaccinations recorded?

When a patient is vaccinated, a record is made in a clinical system at the point of care.

The point of care system the record is made into depends on where a person received their vaccine.

At a GP practice, primary care network, or community pharmacy, the point of care system is Outcomes4Health (Pinnacle).

However, at a vaccination centre, the point of care system is either Outcomes4Health (Pinnacle) or the National Immunisation Vaccination System (NIVS) app.

Hospitals use the NIVS or the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) app to record when they have vaccinated staff members or patients.

This data then goes either directly to the GP system or via the Data Processing Service (DPS).

Once the vaccination record has been added to the patient's medical records, it will appear in the vaccinations section of the Summary Care Record.

Vaccination records should appear in the patient's medical records in GP systems within 48 hours of the entry into the point of care system.

How does the NHS Covid passport app work?

Digital certification is available on the NHS app, which is free to download and was originally designed to allow people to book appointments and access other health services.

It’s available to anyone registered with a GP in England who is 13 or above.

Anyone without a smartphone is being asked to avoid calling their GP and instead ring 119 to order a letter confirming their vaccination status.

Vaccine and negative test certification is now available on the NHS app.

The UK government website explains:

“Demonstrating your COVID-19 vaccination status allows you to show others that you’ve had a full course of the COVID-19 vaccine when travelling abroad to some countries or territories. A full course is currently 2 doses of any approved vaccine.”

“You can access your COVID-19 vaccination status through the free NHS App from 17 May. You can access the app through mobile devices such as a smartphone or by tablet.

“Proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status will be shown within the NHS App. We recommend that you register with the app before booking international travel.”

The app is not the same as Track & Trace. You can find out more information about the NHS app, and download it, on their website.

The NHS App is available to download on smartphones and tablets from the App Store and Google Play.

It's not possible to download the app on your computer, but you can access NHS App services from the browser on your desktop or laptop computer.