Some reports have indicated that over 100 million Americans have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot. Americans will also get a vaccination record card (4-by-3-inch paper card) issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The card is more useful for those who are fully vaccinated and an important document used for travel, attending events, returning to the post-pandemic office, and other purposes. An emergency physician at Rhode Island Hospital and an associate professor at Brown University, Megan Ranney recommended people that they should take a digital photograph of both sides of their personal record card, once they have been vaccinated. People can also scan the card and save the file on a laptop or desktop. She also warned people not to share their personal proof of inoculation on Facebook or other social media sites because it could lead to identity theft.
The vaccination card of the CDC includes a vaccinated person’s date of birth, first name, and last name. A professor at the NYU School of Global Public Health, Danielle Ompad said, “I would not post it to social media with my birthday showing. It is a unique identifier that could allow somebody to potentially steal your identity, so I would first be careful about that”. People should need to print a copy of the photo of the vaccination card and store it in their wallets. Some experts advise against having the original card laminated because booster shots of the vaccine can be added if necessary. A professor of epidemiology at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health, Dr. Maureen Miller said, “I would laminate it because, by the time a booster comes along, the technology will have evolved”.
Point to be noted that people can get their card laminated for free at office supply store Staples by using the code 81450 or at Office Depot with code 52516714. Make sure to store the original hard copy of your vaccine card someplace safe. You don’t need to keep it on your person at all times and risk losing it. Some experts have recommended keeping the original with other important documents or medical records and carrying just the digital copy. But, you should not worry if you lose your card because the provider records it with the state’s immunization registry every time a vaccine is administered. Those flimsy pieces of paper aren’t the only record of your vaccination status. People should keep the cards safe so they have them on hand.