Yesterday, the CDC released new travel guidance for those who have been vaccinated and it’s arguably the biggest and most positive travel news story of the year. You’re going to want to read it all here!

I’m Vaccinated!
It’s perfect timing because the day before the news came out, I got my second dose of the Moderna vaccine. Here’s my experience with CVS and a short video.

How I’m Protecting My CDC Vaccination Card
I’m not laminating my CDC card, even though many stores are offering the service for free (here’s who). Instead, I’ve put mine in a resealable plastic badge holder from an old travel conference. If you don’t have one, you can buy a protective sleeve on Amazon but they’re selling like hotcakes. They’re now on backorder for a week or two and expect the wait to only get longer. I suggest ordering now if you want to use one to protect what is going to be one of your most valuable travel documents.

Reader Tip: Shrink The Card To Wallet Size
Reader Charles O. (yes, the same Charles who wrote 10 Tips For Traveling to Hawaii During COVID) sent in this brilliant tip:

“Lamination of the card is a great idea, but here are two extra things I think folks can do with the card, as well as one caveat.

1. While you are having your vaccination card laminated, have them also shrink the card to wallet size so it’s easy to carry. I went to FedEx Kinkos and they were great with the color copier. I am now able to store a copy in my wallet right next to my Global Entry and Passport cards. They do a two sided color copy that looks identical to the original. Sure, when I am flying (traveling) I’ll take the full size too. Just feels good to have the card in my wallet (purse) and with me all the times.

2. Have them make multiple copies. I had four full size copies made and laminated. They look 100% identical to the original (see image below). Can’t hurt to have a few spread around, right?

3. I left the original as-is and tucked away for safe keeping. The reason is, should a booster shot be needed, they may want/need to stamp or write on the card. Much easier when not laminated. Just my opinion.

I think FedEx Office charged me $6.00 to do everything. A bargain in my book!!

I checked with both our County and State health departments and they had no problem with copies. In fact, they encouraged it! Actually, most of the vaccination sites out here now also send you a PDF of your completed card anyway. All this might change when a digital vaccine passport is reality, but I don’t think that is going to happen as soon as we all would like.” ~ Charles O.

Charles wasn’t the only one who suggested doing this. Here’s Don B’s tip:
I thought you might perhaps want to pass this tip along to your readers concerning vaccine card lamination. I copied both sides of my card but I reduced the size on my copier to approximately credit card size. I then cut out the images and placed the two sides back to back before laminating. It fits nicely in my wallet and I keep the original safely at home in a plastic sleeve.

Tip from a Vaccinator
After I posted the tip about buying a protective sleeve for your vaccination card on Twitter, I received this reply from a vaccinator:

“The ID docs say if you want to laminate your card, just do it. If there’s a booster, [it will] probably be a new card. I’m a vaccinator, if people forget their card for the  second shot, we just give them a new one. It’s a medical record. It can generally be replaced by the provider.” (Reckless Gardener)


Hack: How To Get A COVID-19 Vaccination Appointment

Here’s a trick to getting a vaccine appointment quickly and easily.

3 Comments On "Brilliant Tip: How This Reader Is Carrying His CDC Vaccination Card"
  1. Pamela|

    received my second vaccine shot on March 31, 2021. I was instructed not to laminate the card because if there is a need for booster shots, the backside will be used to record the administration of the shot. Also, I was told that no photocopies will be accepted as proof of vaccination. Any altering ( cut down in size ) will negate the card as a legitimate proof of vaccination.

  2. ACinSV|

    So, two VERY important things (and one is a LIFE SKILL (!)
    (A) YES: duplicate your card, print it 2-sided, laminate the DUPLICATE, and carry THAT for whatever you’re going to need, MOST of the time. (I totally get that “no photocopies will be accepted” – look, if you’re e.g. checking people into the Yankees stadium, you want to see a CARD, not some random Xerox copy of something somewhere. But: you might not want to laminate your real card, for reasons people’ve said (later boosters…) and a laminated, PERFECT scan/print copy of it should do for most of the times you need to show it, no?
    (B) If you don’t know how to SCAN (i.e. photo, with a smartphone) a document (on paper) (and even better, clean it up a little bit) – that’s an important life skill now, *and you need to learn it*. It’s the modern equivalent of simply knowing how to make a (sorry) “Xerox” copy, or send a fax. There are free scan apps for both types of phones – do a wee bit of research, get one, and use it!
    (C) And regardless of whether you print, laminate, carry, or whatever your card: DO “scan” it. Or at least photograph it. AND: it’s a good idea to have a copy of that image AVAILABLE (encrypted! with a strong password!) online, whenever you’re traveling.

  3. Kathleen Stavis|

    I just went to FedEx Kinkos in CA and they will not touch a vaccine card. They will allow you to make copies or reduced size versions on a self serve copier, but this way heavier stock paper is not available. They will also not laminate copies of the vaccine card, which doesn’t even make sense.

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