CDC Vaccination Record Card

I will say no problem even though I have only traveled to France with my CDC card and not England, Austria, Croatia and Slovenia. Any place that has had any American tourists will be used to our weird, handwritten vax cards. Mine has no stickers at all...every entry is handwritten. The electronic verification refers to the handy digital method most European countries use.

I live in CA and entered my vaccine data in the State of California's Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record portal, which then generated a QR code that I saved in my phone. I expect FL would have something similar. I carry my original card with me just in case, but like the digital back-up.

Pam...that helps to put my mind at ease...thank you!

Christa...that would be nice and thank you...but I live in Florida not known for anything reasonable.

"but I live in Florida not known for anything reasonable."

Hahaha, that made me literally laugh out loud. Ditto Idaho. The only good thing is it is VERY easy to get an appointment for a 2nd booster because few around here are being vaxx'd!

No way will Idaho every have any kind of digital vaccine registry.

Are folks finding that a copy of the CDC card is acceptable where proof of vaccination is required whether a US business or international travel?
I'd rather leave the original at home even travelling within the US.

Heads up!

QR codes generated at the state level in the US are NOT officially recognized in the EU. They might 'get a pass' by someone tasked with verifying. But if the gatekeeper is using a QR scanner, the code will fail to match the EU database, be rejected, and just create confusion.

I learned this the hard way when I was in the Canary Islands in January, where proof of vaccination was required at the time. I showed the photo of my CDC card that I have on my phone (I actually set the lock-screen picture to be the CDC card.) This, with a quick joke about how ridiculous the US is, always worked when used first. After a failed scan of my NYState QR code, the photo of the CDC card was looked upon suspiciously.

khansen- I wouldn't travel without the original CDC card. I don't carry it daily, but I wouldn't leave it at home when going to another country.

Scudder--that's good to know about the QR code not being recognized abroad. I have a plastic sleeve for my card since it's getting worn from being in my wallet--you never know when the original will be required so it goes everywhere with me.

You need the original. I carry mine daily while in Europe and keep it safe with my passport. I, too, have it in a plastic protector so it won't get worn.

In the Fall when I traveled I had both in my purse in a zipped and secured pocket as I wasn't sure when they would be needed. This time I'll have both in my money belt which I wear when I'm out and around.

I do have a photo stored in my travel album where I put my tickets, etc.

I had no problem with the original card (in a plastic case on a lanyard) flying to Germany last fall, or anywhere in Germany after I arrived. I suggest you bring it. A state-issued electronic verification with QR code would be a useful backup if available. I'd assume that overseas officials can scan and read the code, but wouldn't necessarily recognize documentation from any of 50 US states.

Dick- Your assumption is reasonable, but not correct. As I mentioned above, a state-generated QR code can not be read in the EU systems.

Following this topic! My original card suffered a hand sanitizer leak (how pandemic is that!?) and now my name/some info is smeared. I called my doctor for another one and they said to print out a copy which doesn't look as official. I guess I'll just bring both. I'll be going to Malta and Italy with stop in London.

Carly, depending on your state, your local Health Department might be able to replace it for you.

Just read Cameron Hewitt's blog (He's a RS guide book author) regarding travel to London and Italy in Feb/March and his experience with Vaccine Cards.

https://blog.ricksteves.com/cameron/2022/04/covid-spring-2022-report/?fbclid=IwAR1cjLU-WJQp5e35Zz35ld-lUXmV5j_iIX9urB6sAuVaijw-l8Zlq5R5LbM

What Scudder and Pam said. Nice to have the CA QR code for use in CA but useless elsewhere. Bring your original CDC card. Protect it. I, too plan to carry it in my passport. I figure all or nothing at all.

When I was planning a solo trip last year to Italy, I definitely didn’t want to depend on just the CDC one piece of paper, thinking it could get coffee spilled on it or worse. (I did take a photo of it on my phone, too.). So, I called our local health district and requested a duplicate card. I will always keep one of them in a small Ziploc bag in my money belt, just in case.

When I had my booster shot in January, I brought both cards and explained that I needed the booster noted on both of them - no issue.

I don’t know if Covid vaccinations would be treated the same way, but I’m guessing each state has some sort of vaccine registry for required vaccines for school attendance, etc. The Covid ones might be added to that. Mine were, just like flu shots. I have the QR code (good to know that’s useless) but also date and vaccine info registered with my doctor’s office via electronic records so it can easily be seen. Of course I’ll still carry my card, encased in plastic, on any trip! Most info on that card is hand written as well.

If you have been to a doctor recently you probably have a digital Patient Portal . The Portal probably has a link so you can upload your Vax Card for verification, Once they verify you should be able to upload. For added surety, also upload to something like VeriFly

My first two shots were local. The 3rd was in California. They were able to confirm my vaccinations.

Thanks GoWest, I went to my patient portal but again we don't have anything with vaccine records. But, great idea hopefully this will work for others.