New York.- The state of the Covid digital vaccine card, the barcode we store on our phones and present to businesses and places as proof of inoculation, is chaotic.
While some states, like California and New York, accept digital records as proof of vaccination to allow entry to restaurants and other businesses, states like Alabama, Arkansas and Florida have banned their use. That means anyone planning to travel to the United States this holiday season should research the policies at the destination.
However, it is indisputable that a digital card is much more convenient than a physical record. For many, the idea of losing a paper record can cause great anxiety, so it’s good to have our vaccination data on devices that we carry everywhere. And companies like Apple and Google have come up with convenient ways to store and retrieve our vaccine credentials.
Much remains uncertain for travelers with the appearance of the Omicron variant. So, to help you plan a safe getaway this holiday season, we’ll go over some of the easiest ways to carry your Covid-related health data, including vaccination passports and test results.
The best method: Apple apps and Google Wallet
First, to find the state’s policies on digital immunization cards, search the health department’s website.
Some states, including California, Utah, Washington, and New York, offer so-called SMART health cards. These are digital credentials linked to an official database that contains your vaccination records or test results.
They come in the form of QR codes, which are essentially barcodes that look like a bunch of black and white squares and contain information about your shots or test results.
States that work with SMART Health Cards (a full list can be found online) allow you to visit a web portal to add your credentials directly to the official Wallet apps on iPhone and Android phones. These Wallet apps are a default place to store data and can be opened immediately by pressing the phone’s power button for quick access to your health document.
#travel #Apple #Google #carry #Covid #certificate #cell #phone