Keeping your vaccine card safe is an easy way to take care of yourself and your family as the global pandemic continues.

Many places require you to show your vaccine card in order to enter buildings, transportation, and even work. Showing proof of vaccination and also having a photo ID with you to verify the vaccination card allows you to enter both public and private spaces. 

But keeping your paper vaccine card on you carries a risk. It’s easy to lose, damage, or misplace. In order to replace your card, you may have to wait for vaccine sites or agencies with digital medical information to get back to you. While in the best case scenario you could obtain your records within a few hours to a few days, that may still delay what you need to use the card for at present.

As of 12/13/2021, cities like New York and New Orleans mandate proof of vaccination for most public indoor spaces. Ten states have created digital vaccine cards and health databases to solve this problem.  Many digital vaccine cards also come with QR codes for easy scanning, which adds convenience to locations where you are required to prove vaccination status. As you’ll read in the next section, QR codes are only available in a handful of states, though other states are considering implementing them as well.

Which states have digital vaccine cards?

As of the publishing date, the following 10 states offers some form of digital vaccine cards:

California

The state of California requires you to fill out a few simple pieces of information, including contact information and a 4 digit pin in order to receive a digital COVID-19 vaccine record. Once you submit your information, you'll receive a link to a QR code and a digital copy of your record.

You can save this digital vaccine record on your Apple Health app or Google Play app on Android. You may also take a screenshot of the digital vaccine record and save it to your camera roll.

California requires attendees over the age of three to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test at mega events (1,000 or more people). Having a digital record and QR code will make this more seamless.

Colorado

Colorado has the myColorado app™. After downloading the app, set up your account by putting in your Colorado driver's license or state issued ID. Once you enter and confirm some information, your COVID-19 vaccination record should appear almost immediately. You can then download it to your device, or access it from the app.

This app also gives you access to SMART® Health Cards, a secure, digital version of your COVID-19 vaccine record in the Colorado Immunization Information System. It creates a QR code that makes it easy to enter work, events, or large public gatherings.

Hawaii

Hawaii has a SMART® Health Card residents can use to prove vaccination status. In order to access it, go to the Safe Travels Digital Platform and create an account. Upload a photo of your vaccination card through the SMART® Health Card logo and enter vaccine information. Once it's validated, you'll get a QR code for easy use.

Illinois

Illinois' Vax Verify Portal allows you to access your immunization records. Once you've completed the verification process, you can view your record in the Illinois Comprehensive Automated Immunization Registry Exchange. At this time, the service does not offer QR codes.

Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Health offers a voluntary SMART® Health Card that confirms your vaccination status. Unlike some other states, you're not required to link this information to your driver's license or state ID. You can also remove your information from it at any time. The app produces a QR code for easy scanning to enter buildings or events.

Michigan

Michigan residents can log into the Michigan Immunization Portal in order to access state immunization records. This is only for people 18 years or older, and you must use your driver's license, state ID, or passport in order to access the information. From there, you can download or print your vaccination status. So far, this does not appear to have a QR code feature.

Minnesota

Minnesota allows residents to find their immunization record through the Docket app. This combines a person's immunizations into a single record, even if they were given by different health care providers in the state.

New Jersey

New Jersey also uses the Docket app to allow residents access to vaccination records. If you have lost your vaccine card or don't have it on you, access it safely through the app. Docket is downloadable in the App Store or Google Play in both English and Spanish. At this time, there is no QR code available.

New York

New York offers the Excelsior Pass and Excelsior Pass Plus. Both versions of the Excelsior Pass offer secure, digital proof of your COVID-19 vaccination or negative test results. The Excelsior Pass doesn't include specific vaccination dates and dosage information. 

Excelsior Pass Plus includes the vaccine type, site, and date of your vaccination. You can print it from the web portal or store it on your New York State Wallet App on your smartphone. Both versions have QR codes for convenient scanning.

Virginia

Virginia residents can obtain vaccination records with QR codes through the state's portal. After signing up for a SMART® Health Card, simply download your information to save or print where you'd like.

According to Forbes, up to 20 additional states are adopting SMART cards in 2022, which means over half the states will have digital vaccine cards available in the near future.

Keep your information safe

A paper vaccine card is vulnerable to damage, loss, or theft. And a digital copy of the vaccine card — such as a photo saved on your phone — is still vulnerable to events like your phone battery dying, or your phone being lost or stolen. 

Saving a copy of your digital vaccine card to a secure, cloud-based platform is the best possible way to have it whenever you need it.

Save your digital vaccine card information on Trustworthy’s secure platform.

Trustworthy makes it easy to save your most important information and easily access it from a platform with AES 256-bit encryption. Along with information like medical insurance cards, state IDs, and your marriage license, easily access or share your digital vaccine card without worrying about losing it.