Key TakeawaysThe SMART Health Card, a technology that allows Americans to keep a copy of their COVID vaccine and testing information as a QR code, is now in use in more than 20 states.The QR code technology of the SMART Health Cards makes health information easier to verify and harder to forge.Digital proofs of vaccination may continue to gain traction over time.

Key Takeaways

The SMART Health Card, a technology that allows Americans to keep a copy of their COVID vaccine and testing information as a QR code, is now in use in more than 20 states.The QR code technology of the SMART Health Cards makes health information easier to verify and harder to forge.Digital proofs of vaccination may continue to gain traction over time.

Although the U.S. government has not issued a federal digital COVID-19 vaccine pass, a verifiable digital proof of vaccination has emerged anyway and slowly gained momentum over the past few months.

More than 20 states—includingConnecticut,Nevada,Hawaii—are now using SMART Health Cards, a technology that allows individuals to store or print their health information as QR codes.

The convenience and authenticity of this technology are beneficial, experts said, and we might continue to use it in the future.

4 Ways to Prove Your COVID-19 Vaccination Status

What Do SMART Health Cards Contain?

SMART Health Cards do not contain your address, contact number, government-issued identifier, or other health information. Only the following details areincluded:

What This Means For YouIf you want to get your SMART Health Card, visit theU.S. SMART Health Card Issuerswebsite to check if your state and/or the health institution that administered your vaccine are issuing it.

What This Means For You

If you want to get your SMART Health Card, visit theU.S. SMART Health Card Issuerswebsite to check if your state and/or the health institution that administered your vaccine are issuing it.

Why Opt for the SMART Health Card?

“The electronic version carries authenticity that is difficult to match with handwritten, paper cards,”Mark Loafman, MD, MPH, family physician at Cook County Health, told Verywell. “A verifiable digital proof of vaccination is more convenient, given how much we all carry and use our phones now.”

There have been instances of healthcare staff sharing blank vaccination cards for others to enter false data, but entering false information into the system is a much riskier and traceable step, he added.

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Are SMART Health Cards Secure?

Vaccination records are uploaded to secure state-operated websites in accordance with HIPAA privacy and security regulations. The digital proof of vaccination, which provides patients access to their own vaccination data, is safe and no more vulnerable than any other password-protected information, Loafman said.

Sharing the QR code is similar to presenting your immunization record before enrolling in an educational institution or using your credit card in a store, which means that you should only share it with businesses and organizations that you trust.

“The SMART Health Card mobile app information is protected just as well as all other information on your cell phone based on the strength of your cell phone pass code,” Farrelly said. “The information stored on your cell phone may be more secure than a paper vaccine card that has no layer of projection if lost.”

Unlike a physical vaccine card, the QR code masks your personal information in case it does get lost, he added.

Is It a HIPAA Violation to Ask Someone’s COVID-19 Vaccination Status?

Will These Be Useful in the Future?

Given that similar systems have been used for years—such as theCLEARprogram in airports—the SMART Health Card may grow in popularity over time, Farrelly said.

It also seems ideal to keep using digital proof of vaccination in the future, Loafman said. If vaccine data is routinely uploaded to secure state-operated websites, paper copies of vaccine administration data may eventually be impractical. Digital records have also been helpful when patients and families move between various health plans.

“We now have so much personal information online, and password protection, firewalls, etc. are all part of daily life,” Loafman added. “It is time for our critical health data to catch up. Security concerns with electronic health records are legitimate, just as these concerns are with other online shopping, banking, email info, and social media. We have learned to navigate these critical data areas very well, and we can do the same for health data.”

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.State of Rhode Island Department of Health.SMART health cards frequently asked questions.

1 Source

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.State of Rhode Island Department of Health.SMART health cards frequently asked questions.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

State of Rhode Island Department of Health.SMART health cards frequently asked questions.

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