It’s probably the most sought-after piece of paper in today’s world. A driver license with a gold-encircled star? A college diploma? A Social Security card? None of these. It’s a little 3” by 4” white card that reads COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card.
You’ll get it when you receive your first vaccination shot. On it will be your assigned patient number along with your birth date, your vaccination data (date, location and lot number of the first shot).
On the back of the card, it stresses “Bring this vaccination record to every vaccination or medical visit.”
When you receive your second vaccination, you’ll provide the card on which the second round of information will be entered.
In the days and years to come, you’ll want to keep this card in your wallet along with other cards like your driver license. It will be proof of your COVID-19 vaccination history.
You may want to take a photo of the card just in case you lose the card or the dog eats it, but safeguard it. Do not post it on social media. Sure, you probably want to celebrate achieving peace of mind by accomplishing your goal, but scammers are looking at the card as a gateway to your personal information. As the Federal Trade Commission warned: “You’re posting a photo of your vaccination card on social media. Please — don’t do that. You could be inviting identity theft.”
Also, some resourceful scammers are copying and selling the cards to folks who haven’t been or don’t want to be vaccinated.
Instead, why not post on social media the sticker that is being handed out telling the world, “I got the COVID-19 vaccine.” It doesn’t reveal any of the personal information that the scammers hunger for.
*Photo credit: EJ Hersom