Did you lose your coronavirus immunization card?
The Government of Canada is currently in the process of creating a secure, standard COVID-19 immunization record, as announced Wednesday (Aug. 11).
Until then, however, British Columbians who may have lost their paper COVID-19 immunization records may access them online.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Leah Holoiday told Vancouver Is Awesome that each person who is immunized in B.C. is provided with a paper record and a record of the immunization is also stored in the online provincial immunization registry. The online registry is accessible to public health as well as individuals.
People can also register on the Health Gateway, where digital immunization record cards will be available after British Columbians receive their vaccine.
If the paper record of the COVID-19 immunization record is destroyed or lost, Holoiday said individuals can request a new copy of their record in the following ways:
- Reaching out to their local health unit if they were immunized at a mass immunization clinic, through their local health unit, or through mobile clinics in their health region.
- Reaching out to their pharmacist if they were immunized at their local pharmacy.
- Reaching out to their community health nurse if they were immunized in a First Nations community.
Signing up for Health Gateway
Health Gateway provides British Columbians with secure access to a single view of their health information. It is accessible by anyone 12 and older with a BC Services Card set up on a mobile device.
The B.C. government states that the registry gives you access to your COVID-19 and medical information. In the future, it will include access to laboratory test results and diagnostic imaging reports.
To register, you need your mobile BC Services Card. It’s a secure way to prove who you are online. If you don't have a mobile BC Services Card, you need to get set up before you can complete the registration process.
From here, you'll need to visit the Health Gateway website and log in with your BC Services Card. After you set up your profile you'll be asked to verify your contact information.
Canada creating COVID-19 vaccine passport for international travel
The Government of Canada has announced it's working with the provinces and territories to develop a COVID-19 vaccine passport for international travel.
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said Wednesday (Aug. 11) that the document should be ready by the "early fall" and will be digital with a paper option.
Mendicino said it will include data on the type of vaccines received, the dates and the location they were given.
Find out more about Canada's new vaccine passport program for travel.
