Keeping up with your proof of COVID-19 vaccination is not only important for maintaining medical records, but for protection against fraud. The official COVID-19 Vaccination Record card is provided for use by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The card is given at an individual’s first vaccination appointment and states what COVID-19 vaccine you received, the date you received it, and where you received it. So, what do you do if you have lost or didn’t receive a COVID-19 vaccination card?

The CDC does not maintain vaccination records or determine how vaccination records are used. The agency also does not provide the white CDC-labeled COVID-19 Vaccination Record cards to individuals. These cards are distributed to vaccination providers by state health departments. However, the CDC recommends the following steps if you have lost your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination record or don’t have a copy:

1. Contact your vaccination provider directly. That provider (doctor or pharmacy) should be able to give you a replacement vaccine card or provide you with proof of your COVID-19 vaccination. 
2. Contact your state health department. If you received your COVID-19 vaccine at a drive- through or mass vaccination clinic or are not sure who to contact, you can contact your state health department. All vaccination providers must report COVID-19 vaccinations to their state immunization information system. The Alabama Department of Public Health has published a list of county health department contacts. You can also consult Alabama’s Immunization Provider Registry with Internet Technology (ImmPRINT) or call 800-469-4599.
3. If you enrolled in v-safe, the after vaccination health checker tool for smartphones, or VaxText, the vaccination text messaging service, after your first vaccine dose, you can access your vaccination information using those tools.

Avoid being scammed

Using or making unofficial vaccination cards as well as altering official vaccination cards are crimes. To avoid fraud, the CDC recommends that you do not:

• Buy fake cards
• Make your own cards
• Fill in blank cards with false information

Offers to purchase CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record cards are scams. Valid proof of COVID-19 vaccination can only be provided to individuals by legitimate vaccination providers.

Once you’ve gotten a new card or a record of your vaccination, store it safely. Among the easiest ways is to take a picture of your card with your smartphone Photos of your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record cards should not be shared on social media. Posting content that includes your date of birth, healthcare details, or other personally identifiable information can be used to steal your identity.

You can also make a copy of your card or a proof of vaccination and carry that in your wallet or purse. Your actual card or a copy of vaccination proof can be stored where you keep important papers. Finally, do not laminate your card so it can be used to record future booster shots.