On 21 April, the pilot phase of the electronic vaccination card (CVE) started in Luxembourg. The tool, developed by Agence eSanté and foreseen in the National Cancer Plan 2020-2024, intends to cover all vaccinations currently recommended in Luxembourg.
Photo: All vaccinators as well as organisations involved in vaccination, will have secure access to the CVE / Credits © Shutterstock
In May 2019, the Direction de la Santé had commissioned the Agence eSanté to develop an electronic vaccination card (CVE) with the aim of dematerialising the yellow vaccination card currently used in Luxembourg. This tool has been in the pilot phase since 21 April. Yet, it had actually been in the planning for a long time. The “Plan National Cancer Luxembourg 2014-2018” had already envisaged its development: “in 2017, a functional individual electronic vaccination card that allows the doctor to view and integrate vaccinations and the person to view their vaccination status”. The measure consisted of defining the content of the electronic vaccination record, the actors who can access it and respective access rights, as well as the methods for inserting data into the vaccination record. The integration of a vaccination alert in the design of the tool had also been anticipated. Even if at that time the topic of vaccinations played a far less prominent role than in today’s Corona times.
In the area of eMédecine, with the aim of advancing digital decision support, the CVE initiative was echoed in the current National Cancer Plan 2020-2024. Based on the concept developed in the previous plan, the CVE should be developed, specifications defined, service providers identified, and the tool finally implemented. Contrary to what was originally envisaged – and prior to the Corona health crisis – the CVE should be open to all vaccinations currently recommended in Luxembourg. This would allow the development of the vaccination coverage of the population to be measured and monitored in a national vaccine registry. This could also help improve the vaccination programme and reduce the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases.
With view to the ongoing Corona vaccination endeavours, the implementation of CVE could not be timelier. The tool – once the pilot phase has been successfully completed – should be of great benefit to the patient, health professionals and the public health system. All vaccinators as well as organisations involved in vaccination, will have secure access to it. For the patient, the CVE will be available on the e-Santé platform. Another big advantage is that the tiresome search for the yellow paper booklet can in theory be omitted.
Note, however, the difference between green and yellow: On 17 March, the European Commission proposed the introduction of digital green certificates to guarantee EU citizens the safe exercise of their right to free movement in times of Corona. This green certificate confirms that one has either been vaccinated against COVID-19, has tested negative for Corona or has experienced a COVID-19 disease. The CVE is to date completely unrelated to the elimination of restrictions in everyday life with regard to the pandemic.
