The Ministry of Health through the Unified Health System (SUS) and its Digital Health services have implemented a vaccination card available through a QR code.
The SUS was created in 1988 and guarantees comprehensive access to universal health to the Brazilian population, from outpatient care to surgeries, or organ transplants. In terms of its digital services, SUS has an online platform where users can consult nearby health centers, their electronic medical records, information on blood donations or organ transplants, among other information.
Through the Conecte SUS application, available in the Google Play and AppStore mobile application stores, it is possible to access the National Health Card (CNS), which serves as identification for public and private health services. The CNS contains information on laboratory tests, doctor's appointments, prescribed medications, the user's vaccination history, among others.
Additionally, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism have signed an agreement that intends to implement nationwide the use of the vaccination certificate to promote tourism. As of May 4, 2021, around 29.4 million doses of the different vaccines against COVID-19 have been applied in Brazil.
"Having a proof of vaccination that offers security to tourists and workers is fundamental for the tourism sector that is working on the reactivation of the activity. The certificate will be an important tool that will strengthen tourism, a decisive activity for Brazil's economic recovery," explained the health and tourism authorities.
The certificate will allow vaccinated people to have an official and validated record through a QR code in the SUS Conecta application, which will now function as a vaccination passport.
The digital document will contain information on the type of vaccine applied, manufacturing lot and date on which the dose or doses were administered. In case of second dose, the application will also show the exact day when it should be received.
It should be noted that the use of this application is not mandatory and it is not necessary to be a SUS user to receive the anti-COVID vaccine.
