Unlike the yellow paper vaccination card, the digital vaccination certificates in the Corona-Warn-App or CovPass-App have an expiry date. Exactly 365 days after vaccination. Of course, this does not mean that the vaccination protection expires. It is a technical expiration date. But the digital vaccination certificate is still needed in some cases, for example when travelling.
The good news first: The vaccination certificates can be renewed in the apps themselves and it is not necessary to go to the pharmacy. We clarify the most important questions and answers.
28 days before the vaccination certificate in the Corona-Warn-App or CovPass-App expires, users will be informed in a message. If no renewal of the certificate is offered yet, it is still current.
In order for the vaccination status to remain digitally valid, the vaccination certificate must be updated in the app. However, not all certificates have to be updated, just the current one. "Since older vaccination certificates (including the first vaccination) are no longer required, they cannot be renewed in the CovPass app either," says the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). This is also the case with the Corona-Warn-App. This means that anyone who has been vaccinated three times only has to renew the certificate for the booster injection.
After the certificate expires, users have 90 days to renew it in the respective app. With the Corona-Warn-App, the digital proof in the certificate area of the application can be refreshed by clicking on "Renew certificate". The expired certificate will be automatically replaced. Version 2.23 of the app is required for the renewal.
In the CovPass app, you can independently extend the certificates from version 1.26. Anyone who opens the app will find the QR code on their screen. Click on "Show certificates" and then on "Renew certificates". On the screen you will then see whether your latest certificate needs to be renewed. A field with "Renew vaccination certificate" can be found there. Afterwards, users must agree to the pop-up instructions. After that, the certificate is renewed. Reissue is limited to three per certificate.
Yes, the proof of convalescence can also be renewed.
In the EU, the digital vaccination certificate is valid for at least 270 days for a basic immunization (two vaccinations). For those who have received a third vaccination, the certificate is valid indefinitely. In Germany, the digital vaccination certificates are valid indefinitely after a full vaccination. However, from October 1, 2022, only people with three vaccinations will be considered fully vaccinated in Germany.
Sources: RKI, Federal Government, Corona-Warn-App, CovPass-App, European Commission
