# Why does the US have such a low tech and easily forged vaccine card **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [May 27, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045 "2021-05-27T16:36:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/21 "2021-05-27T18:07:22Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Establishing at the same time a standardized, nationwide system by which people could prove that they had been vaccinated might have made this more complicated and introduced delay. Well, there were many months that could have been spent preparing, or, at least, you know finding out the measurements of a card that will fit in a wallet… I mean, other countries created vaccination centers and staffed them ahead of time, so they’d be ready when vaccine became available. We could theoretically have preprinted a bunch cards with a hologram or something if we’d wanted to have something a tiny bit more secure. I’m not sure if we need to have that, but if we wanted it, we could have had it ready. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/22 "2021-05-27T18:07:46Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > we have absolutely nothing at the moment. 5G scanning, duh. What do you think the chip is for? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/23 "2021-05-27T18:13:53Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Most of the states (maybe all the states) maintain a vaccine registry, and if your gave id when you got jabbed, your info is there. That’s probably going to be the source for “proof” in the few cases that might require proof. That seems really unlikely to me. What situations might require proof for which state records would be a satisfactory proof? What if you are not currently in the state where you were vaccinated? What if the state bureaucracy has messed up record-keeping? I find it hard to envision what someone might ever be _prevented_ from doing because some state record of vaccination does not exist. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/24 "2021-05-27T18:15:08Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > But nobody’s asking to see proof, and there is no political will to ask for proof, or give most businesses, agencies, etc., the power to ask for proof. Clearly different in different states. And businesses don’t need to be given the power to ask for it, if it’s tied to something like masking. _I.e_., show proof of vaccination or you’re required to mask. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/25 "2021-05-27T18:16:32Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > What situations might require proof for which state records would be a satisfactory proof? We have printed these for patients half a dozen times or so since the mask mandate change. Most of them are asking for employer or travel. Oregon is tracking them on the vaccine database, so they are easily confirmable. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/26 "2021-05-27T18:18:31Z")
So what happens if someone was vaccinated in a different state? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/27 "2021-05-27T18:18:35Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > Most of the states (maybe all the states) maintain a vaccine registry, and if your gave id when you got jabbed, your info is there. That’s probably going to be the source for “proof” in the few cases that might require proof. > > That seems really unlikely to me. What situations might require proof for which state records would be a satisfactory proof? What if you are not currently in the state where you were vaccinated? What if the state bureaucracy has messed up record-keeping? I find it hard to envision what someone might ever be _prevented_ from doing because some state record of vaccination does not exist. Attending public school springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/28 "2021-05-27T18:18:51Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > businesses don’t need to be given the power to ask for it, if it’s tied to something like masking. _I.e_ ., show proof of vaccination or you’re required to mask. The problem, IMHO, is that those businesses are actually saying, “_tell us_ you’re vaccinated or you’re required to mask.” ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/29 "2021-05-27T18:21:01Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Attending public school springs to mind. How is that handled for other mandatory vaccinations for kids? If official state records is the way that’s done, I guess that would make sense. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/30 "2021-05-27T18:22:54Z")
Usually, you need the doctor to sign a form. ---
**Author:** ![Ranch\_Dip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranch_dip/32/5238_2.png) [@Ranch\_Dip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranch_Dip)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/31 "2021-05-27T18:38:56Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > So what happens if someone was vaccinated in a different state? I don’t know. I suspect that the registries don’t talk to each other. We would probably have to reach out to that state’s registry. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/32 "2021-05-27T19:53:33Z")
New York has that Excelsior app, but NJ doesn’t have that. I just got a note from my hair cutting place that if I want to not wear a mask, I have to bring my easily forgeable card. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/33 "2021-05-27T20:01:36Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > For one thing, because many countries are going to make it a condition for international travel. Only about a third of Americans have passports in the first place; rather fewer travel abroad in any given year, and I expect the percentage who want to share health information with foreign governments to be even lower. > [@eschrodinger](#): > > And businesses don’t need to be given the power to ask for it, if it’s tied to something like masking. _I.e_ ., show proof of vaccination or you’re required to mask. [At least one state](https://apnews.com/article/fort-myers-miami-orlando-fort-lauderdale-florida-d2f3bc41dd70f812bdd5becea2bcfbbd) has already forbidden businesses from requiring proof of vaccination. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/34 "2021-05-27T20:03:19Z")
Foreign Government will say share your vaccine status or bugger off from out country. They are not going to care as to American desires in this matter. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/35 "2021-05-27T20:20:28Z")
Ok. However, the majority of Americans don’t care; they’re not going to visit your country anyway, because they don’t travel to ANY other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/36 "2021-05-27T20:26:15Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I couldn’t prove I got a flu shot either. Proof of vaccine hasn’t been a thing in the US in my experience, other than for school-aged children. Yep. Probably the only vaccination I can prove that I have ever had is the smallpox vaccine… because it leaves a distinctive scar which I still have 55+ years later. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/37 "2021-05-27T20:55:12Z")
I was just at my local place on Tuesday, and their sign said something along the lines of “masks are not required for fully vaccinated people”. The stylist said she was glad I wasn’t wearing a mask, because she misses seeing people’s faces. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/38 "2021-05-27T21:13:13Z")
They needed a way to designate that the user got the vaccination. Making a website or tracking system, in the government, would take three years. A form, and a pen, was immediately available. And accessible to everyone. Simple answer. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/39 "2021-05-27T21:15:49Z")
The fact that a business has the power to set such a policy doesn’t mean that the government needs to set up counterfeit proof vaccine IDs in order to effectuate that business’ policy. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2021, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045/40 "2021-05-27T21:24:36Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > [At least one state](https://apnews.com/article/fort-myers-miami-orlando-fort-lauderdale-florida-d2f3bc41dd70f812bdd5becea2bcfbbd) has already forbidden businesses from requiring proof of vaccination. Right. They have the right to ask unless it’s been taken from them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-the-us-have-such-a-low-tech-and-easily-forged-vaccine-card/943045.md?page=3)