Six days before bringing in the vaccine passport system for non-essential businesses, the B.C. government has opened registration and outlined how the process will work.
The card will show whether a B.C. resident is fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated, or unvaccinated. People will be able to get a paper copy of their vaccine status as well as a QR code that can be scanned on a digital device like a smartphone.
To register, people are told to go to B.C. government website and put in their personal health number, birth date, and the date they received either dose one or two of a COVID-19 vaccine. That page can be found here.
After registering and getting a vaccine status card, people can save a digital copy to their smartphone or print it off and carry paper copy with the QR code (as shown in the headline photo above) to present along with their government-issued photo identification if they are 19 years of age or older. Anyone between the age of 12 and 18 will only have to show their vaccine status card.
People without access to a computer and printer can get their card by calling 1-833-838-2323 at the Get Vaccinated call centre and get their printed copy mailed to them. They can also have a friend, family member, or support person print their card for them or they can head to a Service BC Centre to get their card.
The government says the digital QR code system is secure and convenient, adding it has been designed with SMART Health Card, a company that is being widely used.
Starting on Sept. 13, the vaccine card will be needed in restaurants, bars, lounges, movie theatres, casinos, gyms, indoor recreational activities, and for indoor ticketed events like sports, concerts, and live theatre. It will also be needed for indoor events with 50 or more people, including weddings, funerals and conferences, among others.
Businesses can either scan a patron’s QR code on their digital device or their printed copy, or do a visual check with their second piece of ID. A mobile QR code reader app will be released in app stores closer to Sept. 13, 2021 for businesses that choose to scan the QR code.
The province says between Sept. 13 and 26, people can also use their vaccine record card that they received after getting their first or second dose of the vaccine. After Sept. 26, people will have to provide their vaccine status card.
People who live in Canada but outside of B.C. will have to show a recognized vaccine card from their province as well as piece of government ID from that same province. International visitors will have to show their proof of vaccine used to enter Canada as well as their passport.
The vaccine status card system is expected to be in place until Jan. 31, though it potentially could be lifted sooner depending on vaccine uptake, according to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.
The government says the purpose of the system is to allow businesses to safely reopen, while it also encourages more people to get vaccinated to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
