New Zealand's Ministry of Health has provided more options for citizens to get their COVID-19 travel passes. 

In a media release, the government noted the "unprecedented" demand for assistance in generating My Vaccine Pass, the country's official record of COVID-19 vaccination status, which can be currently obtained online or via post. So far, it has issued two million passes to over half of fully vaccinated individuals.

Given the huge volume of requests, "we have added to our call centre capacity to support customers wanting to set up their My COVID Record, check their NHI number, or generate their My Vaccine Pass," said Michael Dreyer, group manager for National Digital Services at the Ministry of Health. Three call centres are now operating with extended hours, he added.

Over the coming days, citizens can also visit their local pharmacy to request their My Vaccine Pass. According to Dreyer, around 400 pharmacies that are vaccinating people will also be assisting them in getting their vaccination passes.

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health awarded a contract to Auckland-based IT services provider MATTR to develop vaccination passes for both domestic and international use. Both passes can be stored in a QR code that can be printed or downloaded to smartphones.

Under the new COVID-19 Protection Framework, citizens are required to show proof of vaccination to access places within the country. Later this week, the New Zealand government will be launching the new "traffic lights" framework, which represents the next phase of its COVID-19 management. "The framework brings us a world where we are freer to move and live with less disruption and offers the stability businesses need to plan for the future," it said.