More than 17.5 million doses of the vaccine have been administered in Illinois. And since some businesses, concert halls, and restaurants require proof of vaccination to enter, what’s the easiest and fastest way to access your vaccination card?

If you have an iPhone, one way to do this is to add your vaccination card to your Apple wallet.

Here’s how to add your immunization information to your digital wallet:

1. Obtain a downloadable file or QR code from your immunization provider. If you are unsure of how to do this or if you have one, contact your insurance company, pharmacy, or the place where you got the vaccine.
2. If you are unsure where you got your vaccine or if your doses were given at different locations, you can access your Illinois vaccination record here.
3. Make sure your iPhone should also be updated with iOS 15.1 software
4. If you have a QR code: open the Camera app on your phone and hold it over the code. When a Health app notification appears, tap and select “Add to wallet and health”
5. If you have a downloadable file: pull it up on your phone and tap the download link. Then select “Add to Wallet & Health”

If you have questions or need more information, click here.

Apple said the company couldn’t see the vaccination card, or how it was being used. The card is only stored on the phone itself and not in the cloud.

The company added that immunization cards cannot be shared with other users on a separate device. Once added, users must verify their identity using Face ID, Touch ID, or a password.

For Android users, Google has also created a way to store vaccine information in Google Pay or Chrome. For step-by-step instructions, click here.

If you want to continue using your physical COVID vaccination card, what should you do if it is lost or damaged?

Although the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have their logo on COVID vaccination cards, they do not have readily available information to print new ones. Instead, state health departments and health providers will, and that’s where the search for a new card should begin.

Here’s who you can contact if you need or want to get a new hard copy of your COVID vaccination proof.

Contact your health care provider

The very first action to take if you lose or damage your vaccination card (or if you never received a card in the first place) is to contact the health care provider who administered the vaccine.

Many companies, including CVS and Walgreen’s, will keep records of these vaccinations and can help individuals obtain new cards.

Other providers, including hospitals that run mass immunization clinics, may also be able to help.

Contact the Illinois State Department of Health

If you are unable to contact your health care provider or the location where you received your dose of immunization, the state health department should be able to help you through their system. immunization information.

Vaccine vendors are required by law to report COVID-19 vaccinations to IIS and other systems. Illinois Archives are available through this portal.

Indiana records for COVID-19 vaccinations can be viewed also via an online portal.

V-Safe or VaxText

If a person needs proof of vaccination to receive a second or third dose of COVID vaccine, the V-Safe and TaxText programs can also help.

These programs, designed to obtain information about how individuals behaved after receiving their vaccines, will also have vaccination information available to individuals who have signed up, according to the CDC.

Here is more information about V-Safe, and here is more information about VaxText.

Other options

If all else fails, contact your county health departments for more information on how to proceed.

Keep in mind

Officials are warning individuals that they may not receive a paper card to replace one that has been lost or damaged.

Some states only provide digital evidence of COVID vaccination, but these policies differ from state to state and individuals should contact their health departments for more information.