1. Home ›
  2. COVID-19 Vaccine Card FAQs

COVID-19 Vaccine Cards

COVID-19 Vaccine Cards are a convenient way to show proof that you have been vaccinated. Read our FAQs (and watch the video below) to learn more about vaccine cards and what to do if you need to replace yours.

FAQs

Vaccine cards are free after receiving your vaccination.

You may download a digital copy of your vaccine record. The Digital Vaccination Record shows the same information as your paper CDC vaccine card and includes a QR code that confirms the vaccine record as an official record of the State of California. It is accepted statewide.

If you would like a paper copy of your vaccination record and you received your COVID-19 vaccine(s) at a hospital, clinic, or pharmacy – please contact the location that you received your vaccine.

If you would like a paper copy of your vaccination record and you received your COVID-19 vaccine(s) at a County-run location – you may return to the location to request a printed copy of your record.

For support, please call (909) 387-3911.

NOTE: We recommend that you download your Digital Vaccine Record and that you take a picture of your vaccine card on your phone or camera after receiving each dose of your vaccine. If you have a primary care doctor, they may request a copy of your vaccine card. 

Your Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record is an electronic vaccination record drawn from the data stored in the California immunization registry. The digital record shows the same information as your paper CDC vaccine card: your name, date of birth, vaccination dates and type of vaccine you received. The digital record also includes a QR code that when scanned by a SMART Health Card reader will display to the reader your name, date of birth, vaccine dates and vaccine type. The QR code also confirms the vaccine record as an official record of the state of California.

For more information about the California Digital Vaccine Record (DVR), please visit:
myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/faq

Errors accessing your Digital Vaccine Record and/or one or more dose not showing up on your DVR may be due to:

  • Differing or missing contact information (i.e., misspellings)
  • Differing or missing email or phone numbers or names (i.e., middle name entered vs just a letter of a middle name)
  • Extra capitalizations in names, home addresses, etc. (For example: email@email.com was entered at the time of the appointment as EMAIL@email.com)
    To learn more about how to access your Digital Vaccine Record, please visit: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Immunization/COVID-19VaccineRecord.aspx

You may also submit a help request using a digital assistant at: chat.myturn.ca.gov/?id=17

To determine why you may be having trouble accessing your California Digital Vaccine Record or to request support, you may call:
California COVID-19 Hotline
Phone: 1-833-422-4255
M-F 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sa-Su 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

NOTE: As of September 2020, the current wait time to receive assistance by the State in resolving your Digital Vaccine Record issues is 2-3 weeks.

If you spot a fake vaccine card, report it to the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-HHS-TIPS or oig.hhs.gov, or file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/. Your report can make a difference. We use reports like yours to investigate, bring law enforcement cases, and alert people about what frauds to be on the lookout for so they can protect themselves, their friends, and family.

To learn more about COVID-related scams, visit ftc.gov/coronavirus/scams-consumer-advice.

Advice For Those Who are Considering Buying a Fake Vaccine Card

  • Know that buying fake vaccine cards, making your own, or filling in blank cards with false information is illegal and could get you fined, or even land you in jail.
  • Don’t share personal information with people you don’t know. Scammers will turn the tables and sell your data or use it to commit identity theft. COVID-19 is an opportunity for scammers, please be wise. For more information about COVID-19 Scams visit here.
  • The only legitimate way to get proof that you’re vaccinated is to GET vaccinated. If you lose that proof, check with your state health department or the place you got vaccinated to find out how you might be able to get a replacement.

As a reminder, vaccine cards are free after receiving your vaccination.