Ministry of Health has advised of the introduction of Samoa's International COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate as the country prepares to open its borders from August this year. 

The M.O.H. published a notice on Wednesday advising the public that the international vaccination certificate will enable Samoans to "travel internationally." 

"The Samoan COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate enables you to travel internationally and prove your vaccine status at all national borders," the M.O.H. notice reads. 

"This includes a Visible Digital Seal (VDS) which appears as a QR Code in the top right of your certificate. This technology allows fast digital verification of your certificate whenever required. 

"The Visible Digital Seal has been developed according to trusted global standards and in collaboration with our international partners. 

"We recommend that the Visible Digital Seal be verified using the ‘VDS-NC Checker’ app available for free through the iOS App Store and Google Play."

The Ministry then urged individuals who were vaccinated in Samoa and are travelling to send an application for the vaccination certificate to the M.O.H. through the email address: [email protected] 

The travellers have also being urged to attach scanned copies of the their Vaccination card (front and back copy) and Biodata page of their passport.

"For those who were vaccinated overseas please obtain digital vaccination certificate from country of vaccination.

"Request must be submitted 5 days prior to date of travel to allow Ministry staff time to verify all records received."

Nonetheless, members of the public who wishes to travel overseas once the borders re-open have been urged to submit applications to ([email protected]) while an automated application process will be made available soon. 

The Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa announced last month that Samoa's international borders will re-open in August. 

Her announcement came after two months of lockdowns nationwide since the first detection of positive community cases of COVID-19 in March this year. 

Preparations by the Samoa Government and the M.O.H. in the lead-up to the opening of international borders are underway.