San Mateo County Responds To Report On COVID Vaccine Card Issues

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — San Mateo County officials responded Friday afternoon to a news report alleging that some 120,000 people were not given the proper Centers for Disease Control vaccination cards after getting their COVID-19 shots and that the county had no plans to replace them.

The San Mateo County Public Health Department said in a statement that ABC7’s report“mischaracterizes how vaccination records are managed in California and creates the false impression that a 4.25” x 3.5” CDC card is more valid or necessary than other forms of documentation.”

According to the report, some people who were vaccinated at the San Mateo County Event Center’s mass vaccination site were given photocopies instead of the standard CDC cards, raising concern that they might not be able to show proper proof that they had gotten the shots.

County health officials said they appreciated residents’ concerns of being able to verify their vaccination status “in a format that is widely accepted.” But they added: “It’s disconcerting to read in the media that only one form of verification is proper, and we understand the confusion and frustration that follow.”

The county said that the format of the letter-sized document that people received is “consistent with the standards established by the California Department of Public Health.”

“We understand our community’s concern about making sure they have the proper way to verify their vaccination status, especially now as more businesses and employers are requiring this information,” said Srija Srinivasan, deputy chief of San Mateo County Health.

According to the county, residents can request a digital record of their vaccination status at the state’s portal or through their health care provider or federal facility, depending on where they were vaccinated.