How to put CT’s COVID vaccine passport on your phone
Gov. Ned Lamont’s office has unveiled Connecticut’s version of a COVID-19 vaccine passport, allowing residents to store a record of their vaccine doses in a smartphone or other mobile device.
Unlike New York’s vaccine passport, the Excelsior Pass, Connecticut’s SMART Health Card system is not a standalone app residents can download.
Instead, the system allows people who were vaccinated in Connecticut to download a digital record of their COVID-19 vaccination with a QR code that can be read using a camera on a smartphone. Once the code is scanned, the health card can then be saved on the user’s smartphone using an app such as Apple Wallet.
The process may sound complicated, but it turns out it’s fairly easy in practice and takes about five minutes to complete on a newer iPhone.
How do I sign up?
Users of older iPhones (below iOS 15) and Android phones will need to download a separate app — CommonPass for users of older iPhones, or CommonHealth for Android devices.
In either case, the first step is to pull up your vaccination records through the public portal on CT WiZ, the state’s vaccination records database. This is best to do on a computer or some other device than the one you intend to save your vaccine card, since you’re going to need to scan the QR code on the vaccination record with your phone’s camera.
Enter the information in the boxes in the portal and click “search.” You’ll also need to receive and enter an access code using either a mobile phone number or an email address.
Once in the portal, you’ll find a list of your vaccinations in the database, including any COVID-19 doses. In the upper-right corner of the screen, you’ll see a link labeled “download COVID-19 record.” Click that, and a record of your COVID-19 vaccination doses will download as a PDF.
If you only want to keep a paper copy — in the event the original you received was lost or destroyed — print out the file and you’re all set. To put the card in your phone, however, you’ll need to scan the QR code under the SMART logo at the bottom of the report. Newer iPhone users can scan the code using the camera app, which will display a link you can tap that leads to an option to add the card to your Wallet and Health apps.
Older iPhone and Android users will have to scan the code using either the CommonPass or CommonHealth app. Samsung users will also get a prompt allowing them to add their card to Samsung Pay.
What’s the benefit of doing this rather than carrying my card?
Mainly convenience. Downloading your vaccine records to your phone means you’ll likely always have them at hand, and means you can store your original card somewhere safe where it can’t be lost or damaged. Smartphones also offer the ability to lock your vaccination card behind a password or other digital lock if privacy is a concern.
The other advantage is the digital cards feature a QR code that businesses, airports and other venues can scan to verify your vaccination record. However, not all states support that verification system.
What regions support it?
New York, California and Canada all use the same verification system, the governor’s office said Monday. Massachusetts and Rhode Island are expected to add it soon.
If I use my digital vaccine card, do I still need to show ID?
Yes, you may have to show ID as well. Some places, such as New York City, require vaccine card holders to also show their ID to match their vaccination record.
Is there any cost?
No, the service is free.
I got a QR code from VAMS when I got my vaccine. Is that the same thing?
No, the two are not the same.
What if I get a booster shot after I set up my digital health card?
In order to have your digital health card show your booster shot, you’ll need to delete your original record from your phone and go through the process again. There’s detailed instructions on how to do that on the state’s website.