Is your digital Corona certificate expiring? You need to know this now

Panagiotis Kolokythas

The digital vaccination certificates in the Corona-Warn-App and in the CovPass-App will expire for many people in the next few weeks. There is a technical reason for this, because the digital vaccination certificates are only valid for 365 days since the last vaccination and then expire automatically. The Corona-Warn-App and CovPass-App therefore start informing the users 28 days before the digital vaccination certificates expire.

So what is to be done if the corresponding message appears in the Corona-Warn-App or CovPass-App?

The simple answer: nothing. In this FAQ, the Robert Koch Institute points out that users of the apps will soon be able to update the digital vaccination certificates themselves via the Corona-Warn-App or the CovPass-App. “You will soon be able to carry out the necessary new issue yourself in the app with just a few clicks,” says the FAQ.

Before the certificates expire, there will be an update in the app stores with the function for reissuing the digital vaccination certificates. So there is no need to go to a pharmacy or vaccination center to have the certificates renewed.

Third vaccination becomes mandatory

In Germany, all people who have received two vaccinations are generally considered to be fully vaccinated. However, the Robert Koch Institute points out an amendment to paragraph 22a of the Infection Protection Act (IfSG), which will come into force on October 1, 2022. From this point on, three vaccinations or, for example, two vaccinations and a proven recovery are usually necessary. You can find more information on this in the FAQ under “Who is considered fully vaccinated in Germany?”.

In principle, the Robert Koch Institute recommends a third individual vaccination for all people who have already been vaccinated twice. Even if you have been vaccinated twice and then become ill and recovered.

Reading tip: Digital vaccination certificate & CovPass – you need to know that