The NHS app may not be ready for use as a “vaccine passport” when international travel resumes on 17 May, Downing Street has confirmed.
A “green list” of countries regarded as safe for travel from that date is expected to be released on Friday this week.
As few as 10 states are expected to be on the list drawn up by the government’s Global Travel Task Force, with others added in June if their coronavirus rates drop.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has previously said the app - currently used to book medical appointments and order repeat prescriptions - will display evidence that someone has been vaccinated or recently tested.
But the Prime Minister’s official spokesman indicated that officials were working on alternative plans when international travel resumes.”
(Mr Shapps) set out the approach we are looking to take,” the spokesman said.
“Obviously we will be able to confirm ahead of the 17th at the earliest what measures are used for those initial countries that are available for travel, be it the app or another approach.”
The spokesman added: “There are other routes to achieving the same end goal. We are working on the app at the moment at pace, to have it ready, and we will be able to confirm ahead of the 17th at the earliest what approaches we will be using.”
