California state launches a digital COVID-19 pass

On Friday, California officials launched a website to access or download a digital copy of COVID-19 immunization records through which businesses will be able to verify the authenticity of digital “vaccine cards”. The state had opened its COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday, but safety precautions like masks, social distancing and capacity norms are still to be followed. These apply even for those venues and locations where people have been vaccinated, but businesses are largely operating on the honour system and not “carding” people.

Through scanning a QR code on the card using an app that a nonprofit group is expected to launch this month, businesses would be able to see if they are genuine or not. Now, 20 million immunized Californians can access their data at myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov.

Still, state officials said the e-pass could help in some circumstances, such as for travel.

California’s technology department developed its new website using technology known as Smart Health Cards, however, users may experience glitches with their entered names, birthdates and contact information not matching immunization records. Rick Klau, the state’s chief tech innovation officer, said only about 90% of records include contact information and some of it may be outdated.

California’s Los Angeles County has offered digital COVID-19 vaccine records for months through startup Healthvana. Millions of users have taken advantage, said Healthvana Chief Executive Ramin Bastani.