California’s New Covid-19 Vaccine Verification System Is Live
Just don’t call it a ‘passport’
Last week, California became among the first states in America to launch a digital vaccine passport. The system provides a digital way for Californians to prove that they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19. Users can access the system at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.
Officially, California’s new system is called a vaccine verification system, and the governor has shied away from the term “passport”. But the system’s features and suggested uses make it very much like a passport, albeit an optional one.
https://twitter.com/CAPublicHealth/status/1407420795811352576
According to an FAQ on the Digital Covid-19 Vaccine Record website, “The Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record portal draws COVID-19 records from California’s immunization systems.” Vaccinated Californians can enter the cellphone number or email address they provided when they received the jab, and the system will check for an entry in the State’s records. Users also enter a unique PIN number in order to access their digital vaccine record securely in the future.
If the entered information matches with a vaccine record in the State’s database, the user receives an email or text message providing a link to their record. Upon entering their pin, they are able to download a QR code that provides details on their vaccination status, including the date of each of their vaccinations, their name and birthday, and the manufacturer of the vaccine they received.
The system is voluntary, and the FAQ says that “Only you can decide how and if you want to share your record with others.” The system’s website does provide some information on potential uses of the digital vaccine passport, though. Firstly, the FAQ suggests that users “take a screenshot of your vaccine record to store on your mobile device, save the QR code to your device’s camera roll, or print a copy of the record and store in a safe place.”
It seems a little silly that the most populous state in the nation would rely on people taking screenshots on their phones as a record-keeping system, instead of a dedicated app like New York’s. But it’s no worse than using Eventbrite for vaccine appointments or enticing…