

On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration approved an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 16 years of age and older.Īn FDA panel will discuss an emergency approval for the Moderna, Inc., COVID-19 vaccine in individuals 18 years and older on December 17. It might still seem too early to be talking about COVID-19 vaccination records, but some groups are not far off from receiving their first dose. If you have questions about your vaccination status or how your records are being stored and used, Bridges says it is best to reach out to your state or city’s Immunization Information System, otherwise known as a vaccine registry. Rather than a physical card, the passport will be accessed via an app.

The passport will provide certified COVID-19 health information from medical facilities and share that information with airlines and border authorities as a method of protecting public health. “We want to have redundant systems in recordkeeping in place so that there are backups, to make sure that people get the right dose at the right time with the correct vaccine,” she told Healthline.īridges added that these records can be useful for people entering or working in professions such as healthcare where vaccination records may be required.Īnd while it’s still unclear whether or not these vaccination cards will be mandatory for future air travel, a digital vaccine passport for travelers is already in its final stages of development by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an airline trade association representing 290 airlines worldwide. “State providers who get these vaccines will report to the immunization registries,” says Bridges. It is an extra record that can be put in a wallet or purse and kept for personal medical records. She says vaccination or shot cards have been used for decades, and this is just one of several ways that individuals can help keep track of critical information related to their COVID-19 vaccination status. Bridges, FACP, is the associate director for adult immunization at the Immunization Action Coalition. “Once you start the series, you have to get the second shot by the same drug manufacturer, meaning you cannot get one Moderna shot and one Pfizer shot to complete the series,” she noted.ĭr. “Of importance is that there are two drug makers who have obtained approval thus far: Pfizer and Moderna,” Meadows told Healthline. Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri and a board member at the American School Health Association. “As far as the vaccine, it will be a two-part series, meaning a shot will be given, then anywhere from 21 to 28 days, the client will require a second vaccination to complete the series,” says Lisa Meadows, APRN-BC, director of the Healthy Kids Outreach Programs for Child Health Advocacy & Outreach at St. You can use this card thereafter to recall important health information, including the type of COVID-19 vaccine received and the dates of first and second doses. If you choose to get a COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available, you will receive a complimentary vaccination card after your first dose. Visit our coronavirus hub and follow our live updates page for the most recent information on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Share on Pinterest Experts say a vaccination card helps keep track of your vaccines as well as provide proof that you’ve been inoculated.
