My son is going to be going back to campus soon and we were trying to figure out if he should take his vaccine card with him. He’s already uploaded it to the school and has a picture on his phone. But, now that more and more places seem to be requiring proof, should he have the actual card? The downside of course is that it is much more likely to get misplaced if it is with him. This summer we had to get new insurance and AAA cards for him because he lost them. Thoughts?
Hi! I am not a parent, but I live in a state where vaccination proof is needed almost 100% of the time. I took a picture of my vaccine card on both the front and backside and kept it on my phone.
I had no problem getting into places that needed vaccination proofs with a picture on my cellphone. But, I do still carry my vaccine card around with me in case, but so far the picture on my phone does the deal 100%
Our state has a digital vaccine passport app. DD is still taking her card to college because they are talking about administering boosters to students when they become available. If she gets a booster, it should probably get listed on the card.
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We had my S bring it since we don’t know what’s coming. I told him never to leave his wallet unattended around campus.
Take a photocopy and laminate it. The big box office stores used to do it for free, but even if they no longer do, it costs a buck or two.
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Part of the problem is that my son does not carry a traditional wallet. He has a card holder that he uses for his license, school ID, and a couple credit cards. It will not hold a vaccine card. This means the vaccine card gets left in his apartment in a “safe” place. That’s how the other two cards got lost.
He needs a distinctive special place for important documents that he can leave somewhere safe. My kids have a zip pouch for things they don’t carry all the time but might need. Passports and vaccine cards go there. Photocopies of these docs go somewhere else.
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We are keeping vaccine cards with passports - in a fireproof safe. D’s card was uploaded to the school’s portal and she has a copy on her phone. Original is staying home.
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It will if you reduce it a couple percent. Might cost an extra dime.
Don’t overthink this.
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If he needs the real card to gain entrance someplace, what good will having it in his dorm room do?
Get a card holder large enough to hold it.
We all have it on our phones, and copies as well…but the real thing is with us in our card cases or wallets when we go out…just in case.
What venues would require original vaccination cards? I can’t think of too many besides places/events that can be potential superspreaders (e.g. concerts, games).
I tend to think he won’t be surprised by a need for the card. Im thinking more like they announce you need it for restaurants or a concert or something like that so he knows when he will need to have it.
Im surprised you carry your card all the time. Have you really needed it? I have never carried mine around.
I don’t understand this. When you say shrink it, then you obviously aren’t talking about the original. Why would a shrunken copy of a card be better than the picture on his cell phone? A copy is a copy.
That’s exactly the type of place I’m thinking about. He has tickets to football and basketball games and he goes to concerts.
In that case, he may need the original physical card.
I’ll probably let my son take his original because he takes his passport with him as well. He needed his passport for international travel (before COVID) and to enter/visit facilities that require citizenship. I’ll just tell him to keep these items together in his room.
For what it’s worth, I’ve had to show my vaccine status at multiple venues across several states over the summer. Not one asked for the original. They all accepted the photo on my phone.
Are some places requiring the original card?
My D does not carry the original and I’d rather she not as it could easily be lost. I could see her storing it with her passport in the fireproof safe she has for important items.
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I think this is the right thing to do. Take it to school but don’t carry it everywhere. Put it somewhere safe in their dorm room. As long as they have a photo on their phone, they aren’t going to be needing it all that often. S19 is notorious for losing his wallet (and then finding it…but still) so I wouldn’t have kids carry it on them every day.
I called the pharmacy where we all got our vaccines and we can get replacement cards if lost so I’m starting to feel less worried about that.
And I read somewhere not to laminate the card because it might need to be updated with booster info. You can just keep it in a small plastic sleeve if you feel like it needs to stay protected.
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Really? Where did you hear this?
D’s college had a zoom presentation for parents this week and one of the things they addressed was when boosters were approved, they would be administering them to students. They have been administering vaccines there since April so when they are given the go ahead, they will be ready.
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Neither of my kids took their cards with them to college. They don’t typically carry wallets and the card does not fit into the sleeve on the back of their phones. So both have photos on their phones. The only place either of them might go, while away at school, that would possibly require them at some point are major league sports venues. If a photo on their phone doesn’t work, then oh well, they won’t go.
I don’t carry mine around and have never been anywhere yet that requires them. At the moment, I’m not even going anywhere that might even require them. No desire to go anywhere with crowds. I might be having to take a day trip to NYC next month so will take it with me there just in case it is needed.
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