Want to post a photo of your COVID-19 Vaccination Card? Don’t!
People who are excited over getting their COVID-19 vaccine may express joy by posting photos of their vaccination cards on social media. Experts warn that it’s a bad idea. The main reasons why the cards exist are to serve as records and remind people when to get their second dose (if receiving a two-dose vaccine). We don’t fully know yet if they may be required in the future for travel. Regardless, our cards need to be saved and protected, as they contain sensitive data that, if stolen, can put people at risk of identity theft.
Per Healthline, your vaccine card includes personal data, such as your name, date of birth, and where and when you were vaccinated. That is protected health information under HIPAA laws. Once the vaccination card is shared, the protection is voided. That puts individuals at risk of medical identity theft. The data may also be used as a means of hacking into a portal, according to chief privacy and HIPAA compliance officer Elizabeth Litten of Fox Rothschild LLP.
Vaccination cards showing only one shot can be duplicated and used to steal follow-up appointments. Or healthcare data can be gathered and sold on the dark web by criminals. Birthdates should not be shared on public platforms, especially when used by people as part of their passwords. This valuable information can be used by hackers to gain access to private accounts. Additionally, people should safeguard other personal documents such as a driver’s license, health insurance card, medical records, paychecks, credit cards, travel boarding passes, and more. The bottom line: err on the side of caution by not sharing your vaccine card or other private documents on social media or in other public spaces.
Sources:
Healthline.com (Why you shouldn’t post a picture of your COVID-19 Vaccine Card)
Nbcchicago.com (Here’s why you shouldn’t post your COVID-19 Vaccine Card on Social Media)