Preparations for COVID-19 vaccination passport progressing — working group appointed to prepare necessary legislation

On 13 August, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health appointed a working group to prepare legislation on the COVID-19 vaccination passport. The term of the working group runs from 13 August 2021 to 30 September 2021.

The Government decided on 5 August 2021 to continue preparations for introducing the COVID-19 vaccination passport. The preparations are being led by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Transport and Communications. 
 
The aim of the passport is to reduce the incidence of COVID-19 infections at gatherings between people and promote the reopening of society with special consideration for health security. 

The passport would allow the person to prove to other people that he or she has a reduced risk of being infectious with COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccination passport would be a reliable certificate of a full vaccination course, recovery from COVID-19, or of a recent negative COVID-19 test.

Preparations are made through cooperation

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health asked the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Ministry of the Environment to provide information by 16 August 2021 regarding the situations or events in their branches of government where the passport would be used. The Ministries have now submitted the information requested. The working group supports the Ministries in their preparatory work. 

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare will assess the health security of the proposals. The Ministry of Justice will take part in assessing the need for legislative amendments, the framework conditions set by the constitutional law and the regulatory needs related to data security.

In addition to the law drafting project concerning the COVID-19 vaccination passport, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health will launch a project on the technical implementation of the passport.

Inquiries: 

Ministry of Social Affairs and Health: Pasi Pohjola, Director, [email protected] 
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: Liisa Huhtala, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 29 504 7062
Ministry of Education and Culture: Joni Hiitola, Senior Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 29 533 0108