If you are confused about how to get your BC Vaccine Card, you are not alone.
As of Thursday (Sept. 9), Health Minister Adrian Dix says roughly 1.1 million vaccine cards have been distributed. While that may sound like a lot, there are still numerous British Columbians who haven't attempted to or been able to access them.
And as of Sept. 13, people aged 12 and older will be required to show proof of one dose of vaccine for entry to a broad range of discretionary events and businesses throughout the province. However, there will be a grace period until Sept. 23 where people may use the paper copy they received at a COVID-19 vaccination clinic as proof.
You can get either save a digital copy of your card to your mobile device or print a hard copy to present along with your government-issued photo identification when entering designated businesses and events.
How do I save a copy of my card to my smartphone?
Whether you plan on saving a copy of your BC Vaccine Card on your smartphone or printing it out, you'll need to save it on your phone first. You can do this by taking a screenshot of the card once you have completed all of the steps to access it online.
Once you have the card, you then save a copy to a photo album or your downloads; you can also print it.
Vancouver local Graye Williams has put together a "quick guide" video to show people how this is done on an iPhone. They recommend using the "heart" feature below the image to add it to your favourites. By doing this, the photo is always easily accessible when you want to use it since it is stored in a separate area.
Alternatively, you can save the screenshot in a photo album that you've already created or one that you make specifically for this purpose. You can also save the image as your wallpaper for your lock screen, which means that you won't have to unlock your phone every time you need to use it.
The process is similar for Android users. V.I.A. video reporter Thor Diakow saved a cropped screenshot of the card onto his Android phone that sits in his downloaded items folder.
No matter what way you save it onto your phone, ensure that you don't share the image on social media. Your BC Vaccine Card has a secure, personalized QR code that shows the stage you're at in your COVID-19 vaccine progress — and that's exactly why you shouldn't be sharing it online.
Are there other ways I can access my BC Vaccine Card?
British Columbians can call the Get Vaccinated call centre at 1-833-838-2323 for a copy of their BC Vaccine Card. They can also visit a Service BC Centre to get one, too.
You can also get a trusted friend, family member or support person to print your card, too.
With files from Tyler Orton.
