Do not laminate your vaccination card. Here’s why

Have you been fully vaccinated against Covid-19? Congratulations. Now the question is, how do you safekeep the proof that you have been officially inoculated with a Covid-19 vaccine?

According to Dr. George C. Benjamin, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, it is not advisable to laminate your vaccination record because it will be the same card to record future shots; a booster shot should one become necessary. If you seal the card in plastic, it will prevent the vaccine provider from adding information from the original card. 

How to protect the vaccination card?

• Put your card in a plastic sleeve to keep it safe and stain-free.
• Do not post your card on social media as it contains sensitive information--your name, birthdate, vaccine manufacturer, and the vaccine lot number your dose came from, plus where and when the vaccine was given. You might be a victim of identity theft. 
• Please take a photo or scan the vaccine card and save it on your phone or email it to yourself for easy access and backup.

If you lose or ruin your card (coffee spill happens), you should be able to get in touch with your local government unit or the organization that gave you your doses. Ask for a duplicate record. They should have the data you need. 

Related post: Know your Covid-19 vaccines