The vaccination card is our new identification document. It is one of those changes generated by the pandemic, a new way of demonstrating if we are safe people or potentially dangerous.
But as is often the case with important documents, no matter how much we take care of them, the hazards of life tend to reach them and they often end up lost, damaged, or destroyed.
As reported by the Inquirer, if you lose or damage your vaccine card and need a replacement, there are alternatives to get a new one in Pennsylvania, depending on whether you got vaccinated in the city of Philadelphia or outside Philadelphia.
What to do
If you got your vaccination at a pharmacy or health clinic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends contacting the pharmacy or clinic.
“We understand that sometimes things happen and cards get lost or damaged,” said Jim Garrow, Communications Director for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. “We’ve been telling folks to go back to a clinic where they were vaccinated and they should be able to receive a new one.” That is applied for those who were vaccinated at city-run clinics as well.
If you were vaccinated at a city-run clinic that is now closed, Garrow suggests going to “any Health Department clinic” and explaining your situation. Garrow says they should provide the client with an updated card.
Try the PA-SIIS
The CDC notes online that you can also try going through the state’s immunization information system, that is the Pennsylvania Statewide Immunization Information System (PA-SIIS). PA-SIIS is an immunization registry system that is operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and collects and organizes vaccine history information.
Maggi Barton, Deputy Press Secretary for the state health department, recommends going through the state Department of Health’s PA-SIIS system and skip trying to go through your vaccine provider if you were vaccinated outside of Philly.
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Barton explains that if Pennsylvanians need a copy of the vaccine card,” they can request a copy of their vaccination records by visiting the Department of Health’s website. Individuals should contact us at the DOH for these vaccination records.”
Can I use PA-SIIS if I was vaccinated in Philly?
No. The PA-SIIS is only for people who were vaccinated outside of Philadelphia, Garrow says. So, if you were vaccinated in the city, you should start by going back to the place where you were vaccinated, rather than using the state system.
Name spelled wrong
If you were vaccinated in the city, Garrow says that going back to your vaccine provider to request a new vaccination card “should work for name changes and errors, provided sufficient ID is presented.”
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