Now that it has been a year since Americans have been receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in mass amounts, more people than ever are misplacing this essential vaccination card. Depending on where you live, you may need this card to enter restaurants, grab a workout, watch a sporting event, and more. This makes it important that you always have it on hand.
Do not panic if you have misplaced your proof of vaccination. Instead, you should take these steps to replace it.
The first reaction of many when they lose their card is to contact the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is a natural response because the logo is front and center on the card. However, because the government agency did not issue this card, it does not have the capability to reissue one to you. The CDC does not even track vaccine records.
Check Online
Most people will find luck finding a copy of their card online. Some states like Arizona give people the option to view their records online. The state uses a program called MyIR Mobile, a company that partners with a handful of state departments to check your immunization history and all you to print out these official records. The District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington, and West Virginia also use this service.
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Utah use their own online systems or third-party companies for people to access their records.
You can submit a request for your vaccine records directly to your state health department if you live in Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.
Contact Your Pharmacy
If you happened to get your vaccine at one of the nation’s pharmacy chains, they should be able to help you to get a copy of your card. This includes Americans who were vaccinated at CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens, or Walmart. Depending on the pharmacy, you may need to stop by in person to receive this replacement copy. Check with your local provider to see what the best course of action is for you.
Last Resorts
If you strike out with these first options, you may need to directly contact the state department’s immunization information system. Per federal law, vaccination provers are mandated to submit vaccine information to this agency. This department will be able to provide you with a copy of your requested vaccination records, however, they cannot provide you with a new card. You will need to bring the vaccination record to your personal healthcare provider in the hopes of getting a new card via this route.
How to Protect Your Card
Once you have gone through the hassle of misplacing your immunization card, you certainly do not want to have to replace it again. To protect this card from damage, consider keeping it in a protective plastic sleeve. While some people like to laminate the card, this makes it impossible to add more information to it as you receive additional boosters.
Most places requiring proof of vaccination for entry will accept a photo of the card. Keeping this saved on your smartphone will allow you to move freely without the worry of losing your card again. You can save this photo in the notes section of your phone for easier access.
There is a good chance that you are going to need to keep this card handy for months to come. Taking steps to protect it and knowing what to do immediately if you misplace it can help to save you from headaches down the road.
