Hang on to that COVID-19 vaccination card -- it's important

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

Proof of vaccination may allow us to begin resuming our normal activities in the near future.

Photos that display the COVID-19 vaccination card like a badge of honor have been making the rounds on social media for months, but the card is more than fodder for selfies, it could be your ticket to freedom in the coming months -- so it should be protected as such.

The precious paper card contains vital information including the brand of vaccine you received and the dates you were immunized. According to public health experts, it's crucial to keep that information handy in case you need it to prove your vaccination status, or to streamline possible future booster shots.
..........
"What these little cards have the potential to do is to make something like international travel easier by avoiding requirements for quarantine or testing," Amesh Adalja, M.D., FIDSA, an infectious disease specialist and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, told ABC News.

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/hang-covid-19-vaccination-card-important/story?id=76606459

[Phoenix61]

1. Take a picture of it and e-mail it to yourself.

I’ve done that with all my ID stuff.

[Maraya1969]

3. GMTA!

[jimfields33]

20. Yep! You beat me to it

take a picture of it on the cell phone and keep in photos, perhaps the cloud. Email to yourself. Make a copy or two and add to the fireproof box with other documents you keep. That should cover it. If you really want to go all out, add a copy to your bank safe deposit box.

[USALiberal]

30. Here's a blank one....

https://health.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-COVID-19-shot-card-2b.pdf

[jimfields33]

32. Lol. I know. I guess if some are desperate enough,

They may go that route.

[USALiberal]

33. The anti-vaxers will us them I am sure! nt

[jimfields33]

39. I am sure some will

As I wrote below. People have been having fake drivers licenses since the first bar opened. Don’t think we should get rid of drivers licenses due to some holding fake ones.

[Upthevibe]

46. Phoenix61....

I have mine in my wallet with my other cards. Thanks for giving me the idea to take a picture - good idea....

[Maraya1969]

2. Take a picture of it on your phone also. Just in case.

[soothsayer]

4. Plus the free donuts!

[Chautauquas]

5. I don't have a card so I don't know

but how difficult would it be for someone to forge the document?

[central scrutinizer]

6. Probably very easy

There’s no serial number, no embossed stamp. Just filled out by hand by the person administering the shot.

[USALiberal]

11. Really easy to forge, worthless!!! Nt

[PJMcK]

12. That's not really correct

I've already used my vaccination card twice -- an official document from the CDC-- to avoid quarantine while traveling.

Your experiences may be different.

[USALiberal]

14. I mean anyone can fake one. So how safe it your travel?? False security.

[IronLionZion]

29. That's the American way

TSA stopped a lot of their useless kabuki theater during the pandemic and admitted it was just to provide a false sense of security.

People want to feel secure without actually being secure. For example, we have mass shootings at grocery stores and spas because we're so safe.

[CaptainTruth]

24. If it allows us to fly to Europe & finally see family & friends...

...people we love, & who we haven't been able to see for over a year, it sure as hell isn't worthless to me & my wife.

[Treefrog]

28. I think the poster's point was that if they can be forged, which seems very easy, then others who

may be traveling with you might not be vaccinated.

[jimfields33]

35. Probably so

But don’t forget people have been forging drivers licenses since the first bar opened and those teens wanting to sneak in. Lol. I don’t think we should do away with drivers licenses due to some who get away with fake ones.

[USALiberal]

38. A drivers license is at least a lot harder than a piece of cardboard. nt

[jimfields33]

41. Yeah. But you can get one in a back alley of any major city.

[USALiberal]

42. You can get a vaccine card here........

https://health.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-COVID-19-shot-card-2b.pdf

[jimfields33]

43. I have to say, you are awesome as heck!!!!!

[USALiberal]

27. Here you go.....

https://health.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-COVID-19-shot-card-2b.pdf

[central scrutinizer]

7. I laminated mine with clear shipping tape

And keep it with my passport. As well as taking a picture of it.

[NCDem47]

8. I was in an early group to get first shot on Jan. 11.

Pfizer. My card lists the maker and lot number for second dose, but only lists a date for the first. Do you think that will be a problem if needed for future travel? There's no traceback on the first dose other than provider (Fulton County GA Board of Health) and maker (Pfizer).

[LetMyPeopleVote]

9. I will be keeping my card

[USALiberal]

10. It is so easy to forge that it is worthless....

Total waste of proof!

[PJMcK]

13. Do whatever you want

As I posted above, my experiences have been very different than your post.

Have you been vaccinated yet? I hope so.

[USALiberal]

19. Here is a blank one if you need another....

https://health.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-COVID-19-shot-card-2b.pdf

[catbyte]

21. So throw yours out if and when you get vaccinated.

[USALiberal]

25. I'll keep it but it's worthless as proof. Let me know if you don't get it! Nt

[Tanuki]

15. You can have it laminated for free at any Staples store through April 3.

https://www.wusa9.com/amp/article/news/verify/covid-19-vaccine-card-can-i-laminate-covid-19-card-staples-lamination-card-staples-free-lamination-covid-card/65-534de4ac-8148-442d-9e67-a6b3c329c970

..."QUESTION:

Will Staples laminate your COVID-19 vaccination record card for free? Will laminating your card ruin it? 

ANSWER: Staples will laminate your COVID-19 vaccine card for free, but only until April 3, 2021. To see if the lamination would ruin your card, it depends on if your card contains stickers and how they were printed.

SOURCE:

Staples 

PROCESS:

One Reddit thread picked up traction in the last couple of weeks, with users asking where they could get their vaccination cards laminated and whether or not they should. Some on the thread even posted saying Staples was offering free lamination for COVID-19 cards specifically.

Our researchers went straight to Staples to get you the answers. They confirmed that yes, you can get your COVID-19 vaccination card laminated for free and any location until April 3, 2021. You would just need to use the coupon code 81450.

As for if lamination causes any possible damage to the card, Staples said it depends on how the card was printed."...(more)


Don't forget the coupon code!

[Rabrrrrrr]

44. Not laminating mine in case we need boosters, and those need to be written on the card.

We don't know for sure that the cards will never be used again.

[murielm99]

16. I took a picture of ours,

and put it away in a safe place, with the SS cards and birth certificates.

[CaptainTruth]

17. I'm looking forward to getting back to Italy to see in-laws & friends.

I won't be surprised if they & other EU countries require proof of vaccination for a while, & for us it'll probably be that card.

[Richard D]

18. Seems to me . . .

That it's an incredibly easy document to forge. Heck, I could do it easily with photoshop.

[USALiberal]

26. True, See this link.......

https://health.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-COVID-19-shot-card-2b.pdf

[USALiberal]

22. Wyoming posted a blank PDF....

https://health.wyo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2020-COVID-19-shot-card-2b.pdf

[Tommymac]

23. Send a copy to your Health Insurance Provider and PCP.

This helps make it more traceable and 'official'.

If you are really concerned about it's legality or 'officiality', or don't have health insurance or a regular PCP, perhaps register it with a Notary and file it as a public document with your local government clerk's office. I'm not an attorney, and unsure of how this would work, but it can't hurt.

[Kablooie]

31. Here in Los Angeles they send you a link to an online digital copy.

Last edited Tue Mar 23, 2021, 12:07 PM - Edit history (1)

With a link to add it to your Apple Wallet if you have an iPhone.
This puts it in with your digital credit cards and tickets.

[USALiberal]

34. That is more secure at least! nt

[Kablooie]

45. And it's always available. You can't lose or misplace it.

Just log in to get a new copy.

[Raftergirl]

36. When I made my appointment online

at a local supermarket’s pharmacy I had to enter quite a bit of info including my Primary Care Physician. After completing my registration I got an email confirmation from NYS COVID Vaccine Program (with a .gov email address.) Has the submitted date and a Submission ID #. I am going to assume that I am now in the NYS Data base if I ever need to retrieve my vax status in the future. Of course, I also took a picture of my card and have the card in a safe place.

Since NYS is instituting the Excelsior Pass (which will be issued like airline boarding passes are) and it will enable people to keep it in Apple Wallet (and I guess there is something similar for android phones) the info needed is in a NYS govt data base.

All the paper work everyone files, whether online or in person is going to go some government agency in every state. Those administering the vaccine just aren’t throwing people’s paperwork in the trash.

Of course, keeping your card is still the smart thing to do, like one keeps their birth certificate, so instead of having to file to get a new one issued, you have the card already.

I’m sure there will also be a way the vaxx info the state has will get to my PCP because almost every physicians office has electronic record keeping now and can be shared easily between providers.

[moreland01]

37. My card

doesn't even have my name on it. Perhaps I can sell it on Ebay to the highest bidder and they can write their name on it?
It's just silly. If they want something formal, then once I'm fully vaccinated I should receive a new health insurance card with a logo emblazoned on it that signifies I've been vaccinated.

They copied my insurance card at the clinic I went to for my vaccination. They know who my insurer is. I have no idea why they copied my insurance card if it wasn't to inform my insurer that I got the shot(s).

[getagrip_already]

40. A vaccination "passport" is actually being considered...

Health experts are saying it will be both physical and and encrypted digital (which will be much more difficult to forge). They stress it will not be gov't issued, but a private, possibly non-profit, effort.

They also stress it must be FREE, easy to obtain for the elderly or poor, and private.

They see it being used to travel outside the country, attend certain events which will have a lot of people in close proximity, or other anti-spreader uses.

At least they are "thinking" of how it should be done. Some repug politician will likely see it another way.

[Evolve Dammit]

47. Good post. Thanks

[Beacool]

48. I already laminated mine.

I got the J&J vaccine last Tuesday. On Friday I went to Staples with a friend, who also had been vaccinated. A young woman took our cards. When she handed back the now laminated cards, I asked how much it was, she responded that we owed nothing. I said, seriously? She said, it's Friday afternoon, have a good weekend. So nice...

[HAB911]

49. Just scanned and laminated mine

to fit my wallet, will also take a photo and keep on my phone

[Calista241]

50. This will never be used as a form of ID, or proof of anything.

It's a major HIPPA and privacy violation. As soon as there's any case law on this at all, all the ways people and companies are using it today will go away in a heartbeat.

[BobTheSubgenius]

51. Good information.

I'm pretty sure my intuition would make me hang on to it, anyway.