How To Protect Your COVID-19 Vaccine Card: Health Officials

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — The McHenry County Department of Health is reminding residents vaccinated against COVID-19 to contact their physician to find out how they can enter their vaccination card information into their medical records.

As more businesses and employers are requiring proof of vaccination against COVID-19, having a record of your vaccination will prevent missed time from work or access to certain businesses and facilities according to a news release. Those traveling internationally may be required to show proof of vaccination.

“Unless you currently have COVID-19 or are already vaccinated against the disease, it’s not too late to protect yourself by getting vaccinated,” said Melissa Adamson, public health administrator for the McHenry County Department of Health. “Having a plan to safeguard your vaccine card and showing proof of your vaccine may be the difference between going to work or unexpected missed time.”

Those who have misplaced their vaccination card should contact the vaccine provider to find out how to get a replacement, according to a news release from the health department. Anyone who received their vaccine at an MCDH clinic, including clinics in McHenry County managed by Curative, can get a record of their vaccination card through MCDH.

To get a copy of your COVID-19 vaccination record from MCDH, make an appointment by calling 815-334-4510, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The cost to replace the record is $2, and a release of information and photo identification is required at the time of your appointment to receive the record.

If you are vaccinated against the disease, MCDH recommends you do the following:

• Contact your physician to find out how to enter your vaccination card into your health record
• Take a photo of your vaccination card for backup proof
• Do not laminate your vaccination card
• Enter your vaccination history or test results into a SMART Health Card
• Opt-in to either v-safe or VaxText as a way to preserve vaccination information
• Register with the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Vax Verify to request your immunization records

Find out where to get vaccinated against COVID-19 by visiting vaccines.gov. To schedule an appointment at an MCDH clinic, visit https://bit.ly/MCDHCOVIDVaxLoc. If you need assistance or do not have internet access, call the MCDH COVID-19 Call Center at (815) 334-4045.