Since I was 6 years old I already had my vaccination passport. In the Netherlands, this is commonly known as the little yellow book, not to be confused with the yellow book. So throughout my life, it has always survived the many moving around. But during one of my last moving, it just got lost. Not a biggie until coronavirus happened. Suddenly vaccinations are in the spotlight again.
And although I am a fan of vaccinations, I did not necessarily mind losing my little yellow book. However, all of this changed when China starts enforcing having the little yellow book on you during travel to China because you might be inspected by the border patrol. This makes it personal because my girlfriend lives in China and therefore my family-in-law as well, prohibiting me from visiting them.
So I bought a backup little yellow book with the assumption that I could get all my vaccinations entered into this little yellow book and I would be totally fine. However, after months of searching, going back and forth all institutions are pointing toward each other, there is apparently no government official certified to enter into these backup little yellow books the vaccinations a Dutch person had in the past, completing the documentation as it should be. And that leaves me where I am currently.
To me, this is a problem that does not need to exist. And in my eyes, it's also pretty easy to be solved. Here are the solutions that I am okay with.
A government official comes out of his hole and uses his powers to personally help me get my little yellow book up to date
The local health service (GGD) provides a process where a Dutch citizen can register for an appointment and let at that place have his little yellow book stamped.
I know the National Health Service Institute (RIVM) is working on a digital vaccination passport, replacing the little yellow book. However, it is said that it still takes years to develop this. I find it unacceptably long and it should be done quicker, like by the end of 2023 now the danger of what we vaccinate against is still present in our minds.
Do you believe that this situation calls for action? Please sign my petition here and help society move forward.