Zimbabwe has launched a new Covid-19 vaccination card with improved security features which can be verified anywhere in the world.
The new cards, which were produced in liaison with Fidelity Printers and the Registrar General’s Office have improved security features which include an invisible coat of arms that fluoresces under UV light, fluorescent numbering, watermarked security paper, micro text underground, a guilloche pattern and a variable QR code on the inside page.
The Director of Health Informatics and Data Analytics in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Simukai Zizhou says the technology allows the QR code of the patient to be uploaded and can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Said Dr Zizhou:
When we started vaccinated people we noted that counterfeit cards were being produced in the community hence we came up with this card. What enables this card to be uploaded onto our electronic platform which you can verify across all ports worldwide is the embedded security card.
We were guided by the WHO smart vaccination card guidelines of which we are part of the technical working group so it is world standard and is recognisable worldwide.
The new cards are already being issued at vaccination centres across the country while those with old cards and intend to travel are being advised to get replacements at the vaccination centres where they were inoculated.
So far 3 million 51 thousand 371 people have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 2 million 211 thousand 880 are fully vaccinated.
More: ZBC News