More than 100 million Americans received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot. The proof? A 4-to-3-inch paper “vaccination record card” issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a post-pandemic world, the humble card for those who are fully vaccinated can become an important document used for travel, attending events, returning to the post-pandemic office, and other purposes. At least a dozen colleges and universities has already announced that they will require students to be vaccinated before returning to campus in the fall. Companies are currently considering whether they will need to prove to employees and protectors that they are being vaccinated as a condition of employment or doing business.
Meanwhile, this is what experts say you need to know about vaccination cards.
Photo of your record card
The first thing experts recommend once you have been vaccinated is to take a digital photo of both sides of your personal record card. You can also scan the card and save the file to a laptop or desk, said Megan Ranney, an emergency physician at Rhode Island Hospital and associate professor at Brown University.
One thing you should not do: Share your personal proof of vaccination on Facebook or other social media sites, which can lead to identity theft because the CDC card includes the person’s date of birth as well as first name and surname.
“I would not post it on social media with my birthday. It is a unique identification with which someone can possibly steal your identity, and therefore I will first guard against it,” said epidemiologist Danielle Ompad, a professor at the NYU School of Global Public Health, told CBS MoneyWatch.
In contrast, you may want to print a copy of the photo from the vaccination card and keep it in your wallet. While some experts advise against laminating the original card so that the vaccine links can be added if needed, others say it’s fine, because a more sophisticated record-keeping system is likely to be operational by then.
“I will laminate it, because by the time an amplifier arrives, the technology will have evolved,” said dr. Maureen Miller, a professor of epidemiology, at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health.
You can have your card laminated for free at the Staples office supply store by using the code 81450 or at Office Depot with code 52516714.
Leave the original at home
Make sure you keep the original hard copy of your vaccination card safe somewhere; you do not have to keep it with your person at all times, and you may lose it. Experts recommend keeping the original article along with other important documents or medical records and carrying only the digital copy.
“It does not have to be worn at all times at this stage unless you are traveling or doing something else for which you need to deliver the vaccine,” Ranney said.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Safety, said he keeps his vaccination record in his passport (along with a card showing he was vaccinated against yellow fever).
Inform your primary care physician that you have received the vaccine, as with any other vaccination. It helps healthcare providers make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
Not everyone followed the advice of experts to store the vaccination records safely. The University of Illinois gymnast Evan Manivong recently nailed a perfect landing during a vault game – and celebrated by pulling out his vaccine card tucked into his leotard and flashing it to the audience. “Go get everyone vaccinated!” tweeted the 20-year-old advertising major later. Videos of the magical moment went viral this week.
What happens if I lose it?
Do not panic if you lose your card. Each time a vaccine is administered, the provider registers it with the state’s vaccination registry.
“The thin pieces of paper are not the only record of your vaccination status,” Adalja said. “People need to keep the cards safe so they have them on hand, but it’s not the end of the world if they lose them or if they go through the washing machine.”
If you place your card incorrectly, call your state’s health department and ask for a replacement.
“At the moment, this is what we have as proof that you received the vaccine, but it is not impossible to replace it,” said Dr. Christine Whelan, clinical professor of consumer science at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, said.
For now, Whelan said, the simple white cards of the CDC may have more symbolic value than the practical function.
“Other countries do not issue pieces of paper like we do, and that can be a wonderful thing we do. There is something satisfying about leaving the card copy record for the event,” she said.
No universal standard yet
President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, said this week that the US government will not so-called vaccine passports for travel and other business activities. Anything that looks like a digital pass is likely to be developed by the private sector, he added.
Some experts lament that the government has not previously developed a standardized, digital proof of vaccination.
“I think the U.S. government should have thought of a digital app early on and had it ready to go so that it can be activated when someone gets a vaccine,” Adalja said. “Now we have to scramble to find a solution that is digital and secure so that people do not have to worry about carrying the card.”
Ideally, one’s vaccination status would be integrated and stored with other personal travel information, which is reflected in programs such as Global Entry and TSA PreCheck, making the process of traveling through airport security easier.
Beware of faux wax cards
Scammers also take advantage of the low-tech record-keeping system. Hundreds of fraudsters sells counterfeit versions of CDC-issued vaccination cards according to e-commerce platforms, including eBay, Etsy and Shopify, according to Saoud Khalifah, CEO of Fakespot, which uses artificial intelligence to warn consumers of online retail fraud.
Thanks to Fakespot
The scam cards are advertised at about $ 20 per doll and are also offered in bulk. The fraud is outright out of sight. Fakespot has identified hundreds of Facebook pages and eBay listings that offer “wax cards” and “blank vaccination cards” for individuals who may not have been vaccinated yet.
“It has introduced this new dynamic to society where people can waive immunity and replace it with a fake card. This is a new concept we have not seen before,” Khalifah told CBS MoneyWatch.
Khalifah suspects that some buyers of the crazy cards are anti-waxxers who do not intend to be immunized but still want access to the card.
The FBI has warned that such schemes violate federal laws that prohibit the unauthorized use of an official government agency’s seal, including those for the CDC. Fraudulent use of an official federal seal is an offense that carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and a group of attorneys general this week called on the e-commerce website OfferUp to illegal sale of white and counterfeit COVID-19 vaccination cards. According to Stein, this type of fraud endangers the health of the general public.
“These maps will lead to more people getting sick from more variants of the virus and more people dying because the pandemic is taking longer to get under control,” he told CBS MoneyWatch. “By not getting the vaccine, it means that more people become infected with variants and it threatens everyone’s health.”
Race for digital passports and other solutions
As Fauci suggested, private companies are already developing ways to show that they are vaccinated or coronavirus-free. New York authorities, for example, are testing a digital health pass powered by blockchain technology in partnership with computer science firm IBM.
“The goal is to ultimately provide New Yorkers with a simple, voluntary, and safe method of providing evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result or vaccination certification,” IBM said in a press release last month.
The State of New York
New York recently managed the so-called Excelsior Pass with the Brooklyn Nets at one of the home games of the National Basketball Association team at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It will also be tested at theaters and other venues as more New Yorkers are vaccinated.
“The Excelsior Pass will play a critical role in securing and streamlining information on sites and websites so that we can quickly monitor the reopening of these businesses and bring us one step closer to reaching a new normal, “said Governor Andrew Cuomo. said in a statement last month.
Vaccine management company VaxAtlas has also launched an app for consumers to store vaccine records safely.
“Authentication will soon be a requirement for travel, work, venues, even schools, and each state may have different rules and guidelines. We need one central system to ensure that vaccinations and certificates are not lost and that personal information is secure. stored, “said VaxAtlas. Judi Korzec, CEO.
Relief from anxiety
VaxYes is another tool that provides free, HIPAA compliant, digital vaccination records for vaccinated individuals. Mohammed Gaber, CEO of the company, expects that the product will initially be used most in the travel sector.
“I personally went through the highlights of getting both doses of the vaccine and the low thinking and fear that I lost my card. Everyone is going to be anxious about this card and how to protect it,” Gaber said.
VaxYes has partnered with various states and organizations across the U.S., including Kansas, testing the tool to enable residents to return to shows and other events. According to the company, thousands of Americans have digitized their paper cards through VaxYes so far.
“People are already starting to think about the summer travel plans, and they see it as an opportunity to get back to normal and resume travel activities,” Gaber said. “We are very excited to be part of the solution.”