What to do if you lose your vaccination card

With New York being the first state to require proof of vaccination for most indoor activities, other states are likely to follow suit. And while that’s great as it gives staff and guests a feeling of security, it’s also a little annoying as the vaccination record is a piece of cardboard just big enough to fit in most wallets.

Fortunately, in the age of technology, there are many solutions even if you lose your vaccination card. Here’s what you should do:

Contact the person in charge

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Contact your vaccination service provider or your state health office. All vaccine suppliers must report their activities to their local vaccination information system. Whether you call CVS or your local government, they should be able to provide you with your vaccination record by email or mail. However, in the latter case, it might take a week or two, so you may want to use other options if you’re in a hurry.

Use online tools

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Services like v-safe or VaxText enable you to get your vaccination card much faster. While these services aren’t as recognized as the real card or vaccination record, they can put you in a bind and they are safe and government sponsored so they should be recognized in most places.

If you still have your card, take a photo of it

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Instead of carrying your card around and folding it (and possibly breaking the vaccine lot number stickers), take a picture of it. Do not take selfies or post them online as they contain sensitive information that could be copied and used by others. A photo of your vaccination card should be sufficient proof of your status for anyone who asks for it.

Find out what your state is doing to keep track of these documents

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Many states are finding sophisticated ways of transporting these documents digitally. New York uses the Excelsior Pass, an app that contains all of your relevant COVID-19 data, from your vaccination card to your last PCR test. The VaxYes website allows you to create a vaccination record that can be stored in any Google or Apple wallet and used for travel, employment and entertainment.