The widely used white vaccination cards for Covid-19 are being gradually replaced, marking the end of an important era in the pandemic.

Due to the federal government no longer distributing Covid-19 vaccines, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ceased printing new cards.

According to the most recent data from the CDC, the federal government sent out over 980 million cards from late 2020 (when the first vaccines were released) until May 10.

Health authorities at both the national and local levels do not anticipate a significant impact from the termination of vaccination cards. This is due to the fact that the need for these cards to gain entry into events, establishments, and other public places is no longer prominent. If you have kept your vaccination card, it is still considered a valid form of proof. However, for those who require their Covid-19 immunization records, they will have to follow the standard procedure of requesting them, similar to obtaining records for any other type of vaccine.

In many cases, the clinic, pharmacy or health department that provided the shot can provide those records. Every state and some cities have an immunization registry, though rules vary on when records are included and options for obtaining copies of your records. Records from the mass vaccination sites held early in the pandemic also should be available in those registries, depending on state laws. There is no national registry for immunization records.

According to David Andres Alegria, a spokesperson for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, Texas mandates that patients provide written consent before being added to the registry. In locations such as Wyoming and Philadelphia, vaccine providers must record all vaccinations in a city-specific system.

Several states provide electronic vaccination records for individuals, accessible through either a website or mobile application. These records contain a certificate or QR code as proof of vaccination. Additionally, certain websites have the capability to monitor and notify users when it is time for their next vaccination.

According to Jeff Chorath, the pandemic brought about increased independence with regards to patient records, particularly for immunization records. In Washington state, the immunization information system manager, there are two digital methods available for accessing vaccination records: a full list of all vaccinations recorded in the state database and one specifically for Covid-19 vaccines.

Some states may not offer the same choices, resulting in a longer wait for your records. Additionally, there may be missing information in state databases. For instance, if you received a vaccination from a federal health provider, your records may be stored in a different system.

According to Heidi Gurov, a nurse consultant from the Wyoming Department of Health, instead of sending off your old card to the Smithsonian, it’s best to treat it like any other health record and keep it for safekeeping.

She suggested keeping them in a secure location.

According to CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen, four million individuals in the United States have been administered the most recent Covid-19 vaccination since its approval last month. Additionally, a combined total of 10 million doses have been distributed to healthcare providers.