You've been vaccinated! YAY! Now, what do you do with your vaccine card? How can you keep your vaccine card safe and what should you do if you lose it? Take a peek at these suggestions:
1) To Laminate or Not to Laminate:
Some businesses are offering free lamination for COVID vaccine cards. This is a nice gesture, however some caution against laminating your card for the following reasons: 1) the card could be damaged in the lamination process and 2) as booster doses are needed the card will need to be updated and this will be difficult if it's laminated.
Not all feel that lamination is bad, though. Some argue that it WILL keep your card safe and that laminating shouldn't be much of a problem because with additional booster doses you could simply be given a separate card anyway.
2) Take a Photo
Taking a photo of your card is an excellent way to make sure you always have a copy of it. You can also scan a copy of the card as well. Store the photo or image on your phone or desktop computer. You can also print out a copy of the card and keep the photocopy in your wallet or purse. These methods allow you to keep your original card at home so it stays in a safe place.
3) Get a Card Protector
Many companies are now selling COVID Vaccine card protectors. You can purchase these or simply use a plastic card or paper holder that you have around the house. This could help protect your vaccine card as well.
4) Store in a Safe Place
Keep your vaccine card where you keep other valuable items. Store with your passports or other ID cards, a safe, or any other location in your home that you feel is safe. Remember, it's probably best to keep the original card safe at home and keep a copy in your wallet/purse (see #2).
5) What to Do if You Lose Your Card
If you lose your vaccine card or if it gets damaged, the CDC states you can do the following:
Contact your vaccination provider directly to access your vaccination record.
If you can’t reach the vaccination provider, contact your state health department’s immunization information system. You can find your state info here.
If you enrolled in v-safe or VaxText, you can access your vaccination information through those tools.
I hope this is helpful! Dr. Jen
Dr. Jen Caudle is a Family Doctor & Associate Professor at Rowan University, an On-air health expert, and a video creator. Please sign up for her free newsletter and follow her on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for daily health videos. Purchase comfy and stylish COVID vaccine shirts (and donate to the Red Cross by doing so) here.