NORFOLK, Va. - The last several weeks have been busy for Dr. Jeff Forman and others at Bayview Physicians Group when it comes to administering COVID-19 shots across Hampton Roads.
“Our group has administered over 5,000 first vaccines,” Forman, the Chief Medical Officer for Bayview Physicians Group, told News 3. “We certainly believe that the vaccination is a pathway out of this pandemic.”
But local doctors and nurses are urging that when you go for your COVID-19 vaccine appointment to take good care of your vaccination card.
“This is the CDC card that we give out to patients,” Forman said.
The card contains your personal information and details of what type of COVID-19 vaccine you got and when you received it.
“That card becomes the verification that you have received the first and then the subsequent dose of the vaccine,” Sentara Healthcare Vice President of Clinical Effectiveness Mary Morin said.
Officials with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) say you should keep your vaccination card in a safe place.
Morin recommends laminating your card and knowing where it's stored if you ever need it for future use.
“Let's say you do travel. It's not unrealistic to think that, at some point, you may have to show proof that you've been vaccinated to travel,” she said. “I don't know if that will happen or not.”
“It may be a passport for travel in the future,” Forman said. “There's nothing that's been decided, but that may be something that becomes recommended by the CDC in the future.”
Meanwhile, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning you shouldn’t share a photo of your card on social media. The BBB added self-identifying information makes you vulnerable to identity theft and could help scammers create fake cards.
“It does have your name; it does have your date of birth,” Forman said. “We recommend not posting photos of yourself with the card and the identifying features.”
Forman suggests taking a picture of your card for records. Either way, both agree you should keep close tabs on your card.
“Carry it with pride,” Morin said. “That vaccine is such an important component of us being able to respectively fight the COVID virus.”
For more details on expectations at COVID-19 vaccination appointments from the CDC, click here.