Message from the Surgeon General: New national COVID-19 Proof of Vaccination Credential (PVC)

October 25, 2021 - Defence Stories

CAF members,

The new national proof of vaccination credential (PVC) has been developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) in partnership with jurisdictions across the country, including the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). This digital PVC is a proof of vaccination that meets national and international standards and will make it easier for CAF members to prove their vaccination status during international travel and when returning to Canada. It can also be used wherever a proof of vaccination is needed, such as to access non-essential services where vaccination is necessary.

The CAF PVC will be issued to vaccinated CAF members.  Others for whom the CAF maintained vaccination records, such as many of the dependents accompanying CAF members outside of Canada, may also request it.

The paper documents issued at the clinic at the time of vaccination remain valid proofs of vaccination.

Distribution to CAF members will start the week of 26 October 2021 and will be automatically sent to members’ DWAN and ECN email addresses. You may receive your PVC on a different date than your colleagues; distribution to all CAF members can take over a week. The PVC will be automatically generated and sent to you if your medical record indicates that you have received COVID-19 vaccination(s) from the CAF (or registered your vaccination with your supporting Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) health clinic). After you receive the PVC by email, you can forward it to your personal email address so it can be kept on your phone, or it can be printed as needed.

If you don’t have access to DWAN or ECN, the PVC will be automatically created and kept as a file in your medical record. A centralized email address to request your PVC for those without DWAN or ECN will be announced soon. You may contact your supporting CFHS health clinic if you have questions.

If you received your vaccine(s) from another provider, such as a civilian health care facility, you must bring that information to a CFHS health clinic so that it can be entered in your health record; otherwise, a valid PVC cannot be created for you. Your CFHS health clinic may contact the outside provider to verify the details in order to ensure your vaccine record is accurate.

I encourage you to speak with your chain of command if you have any questions or concerns. The COVID-19 vaccines for Defence Team members webpage will also be updated with the most current information.

Thank you,

Major-General Marc Bilodeau
Surgeon General, Canadian Armed Forces

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