Title: CDC Stops Printing COVID-19 Vaccination Cards as Digital Records Take Over
Subtitle: The widely used white COVID-19 vaccination cards are being phased out as federal government distribution of vaccines comes to an end.
Date: [Date]
It’s the end of an era for a once-critical pandemic document: The ubiquitous white COVID-19 vaccination cards are being phased out. As the federal government ceases distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has halted the printing of new cards.
Since late 2020, when the first vaccines were released, the federal government has shipped over 980 million vaccination cards as proof of immunization, according to the latest data from the CDC.
With the discontinuation of the cards, federal and local health officials do not anticipate a significant impact, as their usage as entry passes into places like festivals, bars, and restaurants has diminished. However, if individuals require their COVID-19 immunization records, they will need to request them, just as they would for any other vaccine.
In most cases, the clinic, pharmacy, or health department that administered the vaccine can provide these records. Each state, as well as some cities, maintains an immunization registry, although regulations regarding inclusion and record retrieval options differ. It is important to note that there is no national registry for immunization records.
For example, Texas requires written consent from patients to be included in their registry, while other places like Wyoming and Philadelphia have city-specific systems that mandate vaccine providers to log all vaccinations.
Digital vaccination records are increasingly being offered by many states through online platforms or apps. Users can save a certificate or QR code as proof of their vaccination. Some websites even track and notify individuals when they are due for another vaccination.
Jeff Chorath, who manages Washington state’s immunization information system, emphasized the increased patient autonomy in accessing immunization records during the pandemic. Washington state offers two digital options for obtaining vaccination records – a comprehensive list of all vaccinations in the state database and a specific one for COVID-19 vaccines.
It is worth mentioning that not all states offer the same digital options, resulting in potential delays in accessing records. Additionally, there may be gaps in state databases if individuals were vaccinated by federal health providers, as their records might be tracked in a separate system.
As for the old vaccination cards that individuals may still possess, it is recommended to keep them in a secure place like any other health record, according to Heidi Gurov, a nurse consultant from the Wyoming Department of Health.
In related news, CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen announced today that four million people in the U.S. have received the latest COVID-19 vaccine following its approval last month. Additionally, a total of 10 million doses have been shipped to providers.
As digital records become the norm, the transition away from physical vaccination cards marks a significant shift in the way society keeps track of COVID-19 immunizations.