How to Safeguard Your Vaccination Card in the Post-COVID World

With the global pandemic still in our minds, ensuring the safekeeping of your vaccination card is more important than ever. This 75-year-old layperson offers practical advice on how to keep your vaccination card secure, discusses the benefits of both paper-based and digital backups, and suggests various methods to organize your health documents.

Physical Storage Options

The first step in safeguarding your vaccination card involves physical storage. One suggestion is to keep the original document at home, perhaps in a COVID file folder. This folder can be stored with your passport, birth certificate, and other important documents. If the need arises, a photocopy should suffice for most situations. For those who prefer to keep the original, scanning the card into your data and storing it in a safety deposit box is a viable option. The safety deposit box is inexpensive and offers a secure environment for storing important documents. Consider also protecting your copy with a plastic cover and storing it in the same safety deposit box.

Organizing Important Documents

It is recommended to keep your vaccination card with other important medical documents in an organized fashion. Oxford folders with pockets can be particularly helpful, as they prevent small items from falling out and are color-coded for easy organization. Travel wallets with clear windows for vaccination cards are another good choice, especially if you are planning to travel. These wallets can store your passport, boarding pass, and vaccination card in one convenient place.

Digital Backup Solution

For extra security and convenience, taking a digital backup of your vaccination card is highly recommended. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website advises keeping your vaccination card up to date, and suggests taking a picture of it as a backup. Both sides of the card should be captured, and stored in a digital wallet on your smartphone or tablet, where they can be easily accessed from multiple devices.

Digital Identification Apps

Many digital identification apps now offer the capability to store digital versions of your vaccination card alongside other health records. While these apps provide convenience, it is crucial to choose one with robust privacy controls to protect your sensitive information. One reputable option is Airside’s Digital Identity Health Passport App, which stores your data only on your encrypted device and allows you to control who can access your information and for how long.

Conclusion

To ensure you can access your vaccination card in various situations, it's wise to maintain a paper copy and a digital copy. This dual approach guarantees that you'll always have access to this essential document, whether you need it for travel, medical reasons, or simply for future reference. By adopting these strategies, you can stay prepared and protected in the post-COVID world.

Keywords: vaccination card, safety deposit box, digital copy