How do I replace lost vaccine cards?

We are answering your questions about the coronavirus vaccines and what we need to do next. Submit your question using this form or email Lois Solomon at AskLois@sunsentinel.com.

Q. “We recently moved and I misplaced a folder with my important documents. One was my vaccine card. I have a photo of the first two on my phone. Can you tell me how to get a new card? My first shot was in a park in Palm Beach County and the second was at the Palm Beach County fairgrounds. The third was at a pediatric medical office (of a friend). We plan to cruise and travel in the spring, so I need to get this squared away before we go.” — Myra

A. This is going to become a problem for many as time passes and we lose track of our little white cards. Here are a few ways to access your records.

The card’s information is stored in Florida SHOTS (State Health Online Tracking System), a database available to health care professionals. The best strategy would be to call your primary care physician, who can access the database and print out your Florida Certificate of Immunization.

You can also reach out to the site where you received your vaccine or the site’s sponsor. Listed below are some of the most common in South Florida.

Florida Department of Health, Palm Beach: Email CHD50ContactUs@ flhealth.gov with the subject line “Vaccination Card” and provide your name, birthdate and location and dates of your shots.

Florida Department of Health, Broward: Call the Records Management (Medical Records) Department at 954-412-7300.

Customers can visit any Publix Pharmacy and request their customer history summary. The printout will show their COVID vaccines.

Broward Health: “All COVID vaccination data is being sent to Florida SHOTS,” Broward Health spokeswoman Jennifer Smith said. “The public should call their primary care physician, who can then access the database and have a new card reissued.”

Q. “I plan to fly back to the United States on July 17 from Portugal on three flights. How can I get a COVID test with fast results to meet the current testing requirements? I suppose I will need to find a test facility at the airport or get one on the same day I fly.” — Sarina

A. For flights to the United States, you do need a negative COVID test taken within 24 hours of boarding. Taking three flights to get back here makes this a complicated problem.

Check your airline’s website to see what testing facilities there are at or near the airports you will be passing through, and see if you have enough time to get tested at one of them within the 24-hour time frame. Also take a look at information posted by the airports or a site such as Business Traveller, which has a detailed list of international airports and their testing offerings.

The 24-hour rule became effective a year ago, and travelers are not reporting significant challenges, said Vicki Bean, a travel advisor at LUXE Travel Management in Boca Raton.

“Everyone that is returning from out of the country has had to go through this, and I have not heard of any problems,” she said.

Q. “I got a J&J shot back in March and I got my J&J booster in November in different places on my arm. My original injection spot STILL hurts! The booster (and flu shot) never hurt at all. I haven’t done a test yet, but hoping the first injection worked and wondering why it still hurts to the touch.” — Barbara

A. The pain is most likely related to the way the first injection was administered, said Dr. Hila Beckerman, a Delray Beach pediatrician with extensive vaccine experience.

She said the soreness may indicate SIRVA, or “Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration.” The needle may have been placed too high, entering the shoulder joint instead of the deltoid muscle.

“Sometimes you can have just pain, and sometimes it can limit your range of motion,” she said. “The best course of action is to seek care from your physician, who may recommend imaging, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory treatment, such as steroid injections.”

Look at the bright side, she said: Even when reactions such as this occur, the vaccine is still effective.

Q. “We are planning to fly to Europe and are being told that because we change planes, we need to present a QR code to get on the connecting flight. Where do we get QR codes to show our vax status and also a current negative test?” — Elise Herman

A. Check the websites for the U.S. embassies in the countries you’re going to. If you’re going to Spain, for example, the embassy provides directions for how to download the necessary QR code through the Spain Ministry of Health’s website or in the Google Play or iTunes App stores.

“Every country has its own requirements, so you have to check online to get that country’s info,” said Vicki Bean, a travel advisor at Luxe Travel Management in Boca Raton. “It can change anytime, so you have to keep your eye on it prior to departure to make sure you are meeting the most current requirements.”

Another important thing to remember is that when you re-enter the United States, you need a negative test for COVID-19 taken within 24 hours of your return flight or paperwork showing you have recently recovered. You’ll have to show these documents to the airline before you board.

Q. “Can I receive one COVID vaccination in Florida and the second in Colorado?” — Julia Feikert

Remember when the rules were really strict and you had to show proof of Florida residency to get a shot here? Well those days are gone. It’s really easy to walk in to a pharmacy and get a COVID vaccination, and it’s the same in Colorado. They won’t ask for any identification and won’t ask if you’re a resident of Colorado. But bring the card that you got for your first shot when you go for your second so you can have a complete record of your vaccinations on one piece of paper. For those seeking shots in South Florida, find a list of sites at sunsentinel. com/coronavirus/vaccines.

Q. “In November I had stem cell shots for two severely damaged hips. Will obtaining a booster shot interfere with the stem cell therapy? If so, when will it be safe for me to have the booster shot?” — Nancy Trimble

A. This is actually one of the “frequently asked questions” on the American Society of Hematology’s website. In short, they say you should go ahead and get a booster. I also asked Dr. Jorge Galvez Silva, medical director for the KIDZ Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, for his view.

“Vaccines will not interfere with stem cell therapy,” he said. “We suggest giving flu and COVID vaccines to patients with immune systems whose numbers/ values are in the normal range.”

He said some stem cell patients may have a weak response to the vaccines, but they should still get them.

“Patients undergoing stem cell therapies for inflammation could respond differently but it will depend on what type of im mu no suppressive medications they are on ,” he said. “Either way, COVID vaccination should not affect the stem cell infusion and it is better for the body to have an incomplete reaction than none at all.”

Got a question? Email Sun Sentinel staff writer Lois K. Solomon at AskLois@ sunsentinel.com