Americans Will Be Given A Covid Vaccine Card To Track Their Immunization

Dr. Kelly Moore, associate director of the Immunization Action Coalition, said, "Everyone will be issued a written card that they can put in their wallet that will tell them what they had and when their next dose is due. Let's do the simple, easy thing first. Everyone's going to get that."

All administered vaccines will be reported to your state’s immunization registry, as well as to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevetion. Additionally, patients may be asked to provide their cell phone number, so they can get a text message reminder to schedule their second dose of the vaccine.

When Will Americans Get Vaccinated?

Two companies — Pfizer and Moderna — are currently awaiting approval for emergency use. An FDA panel is expected to discuss their authorization on December 10 and 17. If they’re approved, the first vaccine shipments will occur on December 15 and 22, respectively. Together, both companies can distribute 40 million doses by the end of the year. As each vaccine requires two doses, only 20 million people will be able to be fully vaccinated.

Only 20 million people will be able to be fully vaccinated by the end of the year.

The first doses of the vaccine will likely go to health care workers and other vulnerable populations before being distributed to the general populace. Most Americans probably won’t be vaccinated until months into 2021.

Not Every American Wants To Be Vaccinated

Polls have shown that “nearly half of Americans have indicated they won’t take the vaccine.” Some object over the speed of the vaccine’s development and the lack of knowledge about its effects. Others object for religious or conscientious reasons as some of the vaccines used aborted fetus cell lines in their development. Still others will refuse to receive it because it’s “Trump’s vaccine.”

What could be the consequences for those who abstain from being vaccinated? While it’s unlikely the federal government will mandate that every single American must be vaccinated as that’s a state-level power, there’s the prospect that states won’t even need to strongarm their citizens into being vaccinated. Sports venues, restaurants, airlines, and other industries could do it for them by requiring proof of vaccination before being served.

Polls have shown that “nearly half of Americans have indicated they won’t take the vaccine.”

This situation is already in play. Airline companies, such as Qantas, Korean Air, and Air New Zealand, have indicated they may require proof of vaccination before international travel.

Additionally, UK’s vaccine minister Nadhim Zahawi recently commented on how bars, restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums, and other venues can use the NHS’ “track and trace” app to see if customers have been vaccinated.

Zahawi said, “In many ways, the pressure will come from both ways, from service providers who will say demonstrate to us that you’ve been vaccinated, but also we will make the technology as easy and as accessible as possible.”

A digital app won’t even be necessary if you’re carrying a COVID immunization record card in your pocket. It’s not hard to imagine COVID vaccine bouncers checking record cards at the front doors of businesses, refusing entry to anyone not vaccinated.