VACCINE PASSPORT
What do I do if I lose my vaccine passport? Can I get a new one?
The green pass has become an important document to carry with you every day, as many places require vaccination proof. Here is what you can do if you lose it.
It's been a year and a half since the pandemic struck the whole world, changing the lives of many people. Today, green passes have become the answer to many states and countries willing to control the mass spreading of covid-19.
In some states, restaurants, workplaces, and flights are among the places which require vaccination proof, making the vaccination passport a really important document people should carry with them every day. But, what happens if your green pass gets lost?
Protect your green pass
Take a clear picture of the card
Taking a picture of the important documents, such as driving licenses and passports is a must, but it is even more important when talking about your green pass. Why? It is a one-of-a-kind document which is going to be used on a daily basis, and therefore, it's at a higher risk of being lost.
Many places might accept the photograph as proof of vaccination, eluding any problems people might have in case they want to get in a certain restaurant for example, and have forgotten their green pass or have, in the worst case, lost it.
The image should be accessible and clear for both the front and back of the document.
However, just to be clear, an image will not work if you want to get on a flight, but it definitely helps you in the process of getting a new covid passport.
Don't share on social media
Never share any photographs of your personal vaccination passport on social media. Your pass will have a lot of your personal information on it, which could bring up lots of problems such as identity theft.
"As with posting anything online, you could be risking your personal identity and others stealing and modifying your immunization record for themselves," emergency medicine specialist Mohamad Moussa said.
Store in a safe place
Authorities recommend just to take your vaccination passport whenever you are going to a place you might need it, for example, sports areas, museums, certain buildings... If a green pass is not going to be needed, store the document somewhere safe, and easy to remember, for example, with your regular passport and other identity cards.
What to do if lost?
Despite doing everything to keep your green pass safe, there are times where things don't go as planned. If unfortunately, you lose your vaccine card, the first thing you should do is get in touch with the center that administered you the shots and make them aware of the situation. Pharmacies, medical centers, and hospitals could have some kind of record of your immunization. However, if that is not the case, there are several things you could do to ask for a new one to be submitted.
According to CDC recommendations, you should contact your health department's immunization information system as soon as possible, they should have all your vaccination proof registered, or call (860) 509-7929 to ask for your official immunization record from the CT Immunization Information System. They will give you the steps to get a new card.
The CDC also has its own smartphone-based tool called "V-Safe" you can register on.
"This program is to track post-vaccine side effects and symptoms through a smartphone," assistant professor of emergency medicine Shideh Shafie said. "Register when you get your first vaccine, and the program will keep track of your vaccine information so that you can access it later, should you lose your card."