Android phones in Australia will now have a secure way to store and access COVID vaccination certificates as Google rolls out its COVID Card feature locally.
Working with Services Australia, Google has implemented the COVID Card – first launched in the US last month – for Australian users, accessible via the Express Plus Medicare app or the Medicare portal on the MyGov website.
The COVID Card feature gives Android users a convenient way to prove their vaccination status, according to Samantha Yorke, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google Australia.
“For added convenience, you can access your vaccine information even when you’re offline, which means you do not need mobile or wi-fi connection.
“If you have the Google Pay app on your Android phone, you can also access the certificate from the same place where you access your other cards and other passes,” she said.
For added security, the certificates will be stored locally on users’ phones rather than on Google servers, and will require signing in via PIN, password, or biometric method to view.
