Some Counties Still Mandating Vaccination Cards

 

Some Counties Still Mandating Vaccination Cards

With the U.S. federal government no longer involved in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ceased the issuance of new vaccination cards, as reported by the Associated Press on October 4, 2023.

According to the most recent data from the CDC, over 980 million vaccination cards were shipped by the federal government from late 2020 to early May 2023.

In May 2023, the CDC had previously announced the end of the requirement for air passengers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination when visiting the United States.

However, the European Union (EU) remains committed to verifying individuals' vaccination statuses. The EU Digital COVID certificate has been issued to more than 2.3 billion people across 51 countries.

Effective from July 1, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN) has been integrated with the EU certificate. The GDHCN offers digital capabilities, including cross-border verification of vaccinations and prescriptions, the International Patient Summary, validation of vaccination certificates both within and across borders, and the certification of public health professionals through the WHO Academy.

Notably, the U.S. State Department recently introduced the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy. The primary mission of this bureau is to strengthen the global health security framework to prevent, detect, control, and respond to infectious diseases effectively.

U.S. Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken, in a statement dated August 1, 2023, emphasized that through the coordination of U.S. foreign assistance, the Bureau seeks to promote international cooperation and enhance protection for the United States and the global community against health threats by improving systems and policies.

Historically, certain countries used the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), commonly referred to as the "yellow card," to verify vaccinations for yellow fever and polio.