How to get a digital record or printed replacement card
By Lisa Greve
More and more, people are required to show proof of their Covid-19 vaccine record for their jobs, when traveling, attending public events, or entering some places of business. Unfortunately, there is no national organization that maintains vaccination records. The easiest way to navigate this changing landscape is to have a copy of your card on hand, as you never know when you may be asked to provide proof of vaccination.
Replacement cards
So, what do you do if you’ve lost your paper Covid-19 vaccine card? The CDC says to contact your state health department or the provider site where you got your first shot or to find out how you can get a replacement card.1
Versant Capital Management is located in Arizona, where most of our clients live. The Arizona Department of Health Services offers MyIR Mobile, an app that provides your entire immunization record in PDF form. The State of Arizona doesn’t offer a digital version of vaccine cards at this time.2 To receive a hard copy of your Covid-19 vaccination card, you will need to fill out an Immunization Record Request Form and return it to the Arizona Department of Health Services with a copy of your picture I.D.
Digital storage
Carrying a hard copy of your Covid-19 vaccine record isn’t always convenient, and you can run the risk of losing it. Sure, you could just take a picture and hope to produce it when needed, like when entering an entertainment venue. But there are ways to save it digitally so that it is more readily available, and you don’t make people behind you wait. Some states have made it easy to get a digital vaccination record that can be stored on a smartphone or computer or be printed out. Currently, ten states offer digital Covid-19 vaccine records for their residents:
California: Digital Covid-19 Vaccine Record
Colorado: myColorado Vaccine Record
Hawaii: Smart Health Card
Illinois: Vax Verify
Louisiana: LA Wallet
Michigan: Michigan Immunization Portal
Minnesota: Docket
New Jersey: Docket
New York: Excelsior Pass
Virginia: QR Code
Twenty states have prohibited the use of Covid-19 digital credentials in some way. They include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming.3
Walmart and Sam’s Club allow users to store their Covid-19 vaccine records in a pharmacy account. The company states that the vaccine record can be printed, saved on a device, or shared.
Both Apple iOS and Android devices have built-in apps that use your phone’s camera to scan and store documents. New to Apple’s new iOS 15 operating system is the ability to securely store Covid-19 vaccination and test result records in the Health and Wallet app on your iPhone. Vaccination and test result records downloaded in this format are digitally signed by a vaccine or test result provider.4
Several technology companies offer apps for people to manage their verified identity credentials such as passport, driver’s license, Covid-19 vaccine record, and testing results on their smartphone. One such company is Airside, which is available on Apple or Android devices.5 Clear, the membership program known for its express security lines at airports and stadiums, also has a free vaccine verification on its app.
Government-issued cards?
For now, the US federal government is leaving it up to individual states to decide what will be required for proof of vaccination and when it’s needed. Officials are reportedly working to find a fraud-proof tracking system that works for everyone.6
No matter how you store your Covid-19 vaccine record, hang on to your card because, for now, it’s the main form of proof that you’ve been vaccinated.
SOURCES
1CDC.gov
2The Arizona Department of Health Services
3Becker’s Health IT: Vaccine Passports, by Hannah Mitchell, Sept 17, 2021
4Apple.com
5Forbes.com, How To Get Digital Proof Of Your Vaccine Record – No Matter Where You Live, by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Sept 11, 2021
6PIH Health: What Should You do With Your Vaccine Card? Aug 4, 2021
Lisa Greve is the marketing and administrative manager at Versant Capital Management, an independent wealth management and registered investment firm serving people and their families since 2004.
DISCLOSURE: For complete information on your tax situation, you should consult a qualified tax advisor. While Versant Capital Management doesn’t offer tax advice, we are familiar with certain tax situations that our clients face regularly. Disclosure: Any tax-related material contained within this document is subject to the following disclaimer required pursuant to IRS Circular 230: Any tax information contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended to be used and cannot be used for purposes of (i) avoiding penalties imposed under the United States Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting marketing or recommending to another person any tax-related matter.
