Hawaii unwraps voluntary digital vaccination record
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Hawaii has become the latest state to allow residents to upload and verify their COVID-19 vaccination status.
Hawaii residents can now upload their vaccination card to their smartphones so they can carry digital proof of their immunization against COVID-19.
The digital card, called the Hawaii SMART Health card, will make it easier for vaccinated residents to present evidence to restaurants, businesses and other venues without carrying a physical document.
Starting Sept. 10, people who have been vaccinated in the state can upload a photo of their vaccination card to the Safe Travels Hawaii website to create a digital record, officials said. Any individual who has completed the 14-day waiting period after receiving a vaccine shot in Hawaii, will be eligible for the SMART Health card.
“Participation in the SMART Health Card program is purely voluntary, but it aims to make it easier and more convenient for patrons to present proof of vaccination at restaurants, gyms, other businesses and establishments that require it,” Gov. David Ige said.
Ige stressed this voluntary verification was another option for residents to confirm their vaccination status and that it should also curb the use of fake vaccination cards. Once individuals have verified their vaccination status, businesses will be able to authenticate that data with a validator app that scans the digital card’s QR code and cross-references the state’s databases.
“It’s another step toward protecting the health and safety of our residents and visitors, while also balancing the need to support local businesses and Hawaii’s economy,”Ige said.
This announcement comes as more public- and private-sector organizations require proof of vaccination, and states develop their own verification apps. New York unveiled its own QR-code generating app called the Excelsior Pass in March, and vaccination passport initiatives in California, Lousiana, Colorado and Illinois have ramped up in recent months.
“SMART Health Cards are growing as a standard to show proof of vaccination across the nation,” Hawaii CIO Doug Murdock said. “Hawaii joins states such as New York, California and Louisiana, in implementing an application that allows people to share their vaccine status to businesses and venues in a safe and secure way.”