- When you get your COVID-19 vaccination, you will be given a vaccination card.
- It is important to hold onto this card as it will serve several important purposes in the future.
- It is recommended to take a photo or scan of the card and keep the original in a safe place.
- If you lose your card, it is possible to get a replacement.
When you receive your COVID-19 vaccination, you will be given a vaccination card as documentation.
The card will show your name and date of birth, vaccine manufacturer and batch number, as well as where the vaccine was administered and the date the vaccine was administered.
The map also tells you if and when to return for a booster shot.
In addition to reminding you when to come back for your next injection, there are several other important reasons for keeping your vaccination card.
Sarah E. Lynch, PharmD, a pharmacist and pharmacy faculty at Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York, said a major reason for holding your vaccination card is the possibility that you may experience an adverse reaction.
If the event is related to a particular lot number of the vaccine, having this information will make it possible to make a connection between what you are experiencing and the vaccine lot you received.
The card also tells you when you received your last dose if it appears that future booster doses are needed.
S. Wesley Long, PhD, a researcher at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, added that knowing what vaccine you got could affect the makeup of any future booster you might receive.
Long also noted that proof of vaccination may be required for travel, work, school, volunteer work, or activities as we proceed.
Nicole J. Hassoun, MA, PhD, a philosophy professor at Binghamton University, said vaccination cards not only provide short-term evidence of vaccination, but can also become the basis for immunity passports, documents required to access public spaces, and travel .
And there may be some added benefits of having a copy of your card handy.
“Some companies offer discounts to people who have been vaccinated,” Long said, “so you may need a copy or photo of your card to take advantage of this.”
“Since you’re unlikely to need the card in everyday life,” Long said, “I would take a photo and / or scan of the card first and then put it somewhere safe.
“Some people have suggested laminating the cards, but then they cannot be updated with information in the future, such as the receipt of a booster shot,” he added.
Lynch suggested that taking a photo of the front and back of the card and keeping it on your mobile device is a good way to keep the card with you at all times.
She also noted that some states are introducing digital vaccine passport applications.
“This allows the card information to be recorded in a digital app that is easily accessible on a mobile device and shared during events where documentation is required, eliminating the need to carry the physical card,” explains Lynch.
If you lose your card, don’t worry. The information has not disappeared forever.
In general, you should be able to contact the clinic or agency where your vaccination was administered to obtain a duplicate record, Long said.
In addition, this information should have been shared with your state’s immunization registry, so it may be possible to obtain proof of vaccination from your state.
Keeping your vaccine card in a safe place makes it easy to have it readily available as and when you need it.