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Leave your COVID vaccine card at home: 8 safe ways to store it on your phone

You may need to show proof you are vaccinated to enter many restaurants, gyms and event venues or even the office, as the delta variant spreads. Here’s how to keep your vaccine information handy while leaving the paper card back at home.
For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO and CDC websites.

With new vaccine mandates that span government workers and school districts to larger employers, the need to keep your COVID-19 vaccine card handy becomes more and more important. That goes for kids, too, who shortly may be eligible for the vaccine.

And it’s not just at the federal level. Cities and counties across the country are requiring proof of vaccination to attend live indoor events and enter gyms, restaurants and bars.

The vaccines continue to be highly effective in preventing hospitalization. Over the summer, as the delta variant spread across the US, the number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths climbed. Unvaccinated people have accounted for nearly all the hospitalizations and deaths — over 97% as of July. With the federal mandates, the Biden administration aims to stem the surge and put pressure on those who are eligible but not yet vaccinated.

That rectangular paper card you received when you were vaccinated will suffice to prove that you’re vaccinated. (And if there’s still room on the card, it can show you got a booster shot from Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson when those are available.)

But what if you lose it, or it’s damaged or stolen? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesn’t have a record of your vaccination status. We do know how to get a new vaccine card if yours is lost or damaged.

Rather than carrying around the card — or laminating it, which prevents your health care provider from updating it with future booster shots — take a few minutes to add a digital copy of your vaccination card to your phone. Here are a few options I’ve found while researching how to safely store mine.

There isn’t one approved way to show proof of your vaccination card

The US doesn’t have a single online system or app you can use to show proof of vaccination on your phone. Instead, what qualifies as proof varies by city, county and even business. Some places may accept a picture of your vaccination card; others may require you to use an app that’s authorized at state level.

It’s a confusing mess, to put it mildly. I strongly urge you to take a few minutes to research what your city, county or state will accept as proof, as it can vary.

For example, concert producer AEG Presents will accept a «physical copy of a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, a digital copy of such card or such other proof as is permitted locally.»

Along with school mandates, many colleges are are also requiring students and employees to be vaccinated. Seattle University, for example, requires students to be vaccinated to attend in-person classes via an online form that uploads photos of the front and back of the vaccination card.

When in doubt, look for information on the business’s website, or call the local health department and ask for clarification. This is bound to save you time, headaches and being turned away at the door.

Have an iPhone or an Android phone? Here’s an easy way to save your card

If you have an iPhone, with an update coming soon for iOS 15 you’ll be able to add your vaccine card to your Apple Wallet to present to whenever you need to show you’re fully vaccinated. (You can keep a copy in the Health app right now.)

Over on Android, you can add your vaccine card to the Google Pay app. I need to remind myself each time where my card is in Google Pay, so I added a shortcut icon to my home screen to quickly find it.

Own a Samsung phone? There’s an app just for you

Samsung now gives Galaxy phone owners the option to add proof of vaccination to Samsung Pay,its wallet app. By having direct access to your vaccination record, youwon’t have to fiddle around with creating photo albums and tappingthrough multiple screens before you’re able to show it to a bouncer atyour local watering hole.

To add your card to Samsung Pay, you’ll need to download the CommonHealth app(Samsung’s partner) from the Google Play Store. Follow the prompts inthe app to verify your vaccination status. Once the app confirms you’veindeed gotten the shots, you’ll be prompted to download a Smart HealthCard to Samsung Pay.

That card is what you’ll then show to anyone requesting you show proof of vaccination.

Use your phone to take a clear photo of your card

Is that too much fuss? The simplest way to have a digital record of your vaccine status is to snap a picture of your vaccination card and keep it on your phone. The CDC even recommends keeping a picture of your card as a backup copy.

Simply use the camera app on your phone to snap the photo. You can favorite the photo to quickly locate it or store it in a notes app, a folder or somewhere that’s easy to remember so you don’t have to endlessly scroll your camera roll to find it. Make sure you’re in a well-lit area and get close enough to the card that its dates and details are legible. I also suggest putting the card on a dark surface, while remaining conscious of shadows of your arms or the phone on the card itself.

Here’s an example of one way to save your vaccination card as a new photo album. On an iPhone, open the Photos app, select the Albums tab and then tap the + sign in the top left corner followed by New Album. Give the album a name and then tap Save. Next, select the photos of your card to add it to the album.

On an Android phone, it depends on which app you’re using, but the process should generally be the same. If you’re using the Google Photos app, open the app and then select the picture of your vaccination card. Tap the three-dot menu button in the top-right corner, followed by the Add to Album button. Select +New album and give it a name such as «Vaccination Card» and tap the checkmark button when you’re done.

Excelsior and more: Look for apps based on your location

Some states — including California, Colorado, Hawaii, New York and Oregon — offer some form of digital vaccination card. The myColorado app requires you to create an account, verify your identity and then add your digital driver’s license to your phone. After you’ve done that, you can then add your myVaccine record to the app.

Louisiana’s LA Wallet app takes a similar approach to Colorado’s, allowing you to add your driver’s license and proof of vaccination to your phone.

California’s implementation requires you to fill out a form to verify your identity, after which you’ll receive a text message or email with a link to a QR code you can save to your phone. When scanned, the code will offer proof of vaccination. The link will also include a digital copy of your vaccination record.

MyIR Mobile is another app used by several state health departments to provide a digital copy of your vaccination card. Currently, if you live in Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Dakota, Washington, West Virginia or Washington, DC, this is the app you’ll use.

More options to create and store your digital vaccination card

I’ve had a large number of readers reach out to me about this article, each one offering advice and guidance about storing a proof of vaccination card.

Some suggestions include well-known airport security service Clear. In fact, some concert and exhibition halls are requiring attendees use Clear to verify their vaccination status to attend a show. You can go to clearme.com/healthpass to download the app and get your card added.

VaxYes is another service that verifies your vaccination status and then adds your vaccination card to Apple Wallet. I’ve read that you can add your card to the Google Pay app, but after signing up and going through the process myself, I don’t see the option on a Pixel 5 running Android 12.

If your local municipality or employer used the CDC’s Vaccine Administration Management System, then you can use the VAMS website to access your vaccination records. I had more than one reader reach out to me about using this system to show proof of vaccination, but without an account myself, I’m unable to go through the process of accessing a vaccination record.

Another suggestion I received from multiple readers is to use a scanner app on your phone and store a scanned copy of your vaccination card in something like your OneDrive personal vault or a password manager (almost all of them offer some sort of secure file storage) instead of storing the photo in Google Photos or Apple’s iCloud photos. On an iPhone, you can use the scanner that’s built into the Notes app. On Android, Google’s Stack PDF scanner will be enough to get the job done.

This story updates as the national vaccine conversation continues. For more information about the forthcoming booster shots, make sure to read this. We have up-to-date details about the delta variant, as well as delta plus and the lambda variant.

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Technologies

Drag x Drive Proves the Switch 2’s Mouse Mode Controls Are Fantastic

Nintendo has done it again with a great new way to play games on its just-launched console.

Nintendo’s next summer title — and one of the few new games for the Switch 2 soon after its June launch — is the multiplayer wheelchair basketball game, Drag x Drive. It uses the console’s new Joy-Con mouse controls to simulate moving the wheels of your chair (or vehicle, as it’s referred to in-game) while playing short three-on-three matches. While it does take some getting used to, it shows off how well this new input mode works and harkens back to an era of motion-controlled gaming made popular on Nintendo’s Wii. 

Playing Drag x Drive is unique, reflecting the Switch 2 new tech. You detach each Joy-Con 2 controller from the system, place the sensors face down on a surface (which can range from a table to even your legs), and slide the controllers forward and backward to move the wheels respectively. I actually found it more comfortable on my wrists to use the controllers positioned a little wider on my thighs instead of straight up and down on a table. 

Learning to play has a steep curve, and I found my shoulders getting tired quickly as the game kept reminding me that longer strokes would move my character faster on the court. For anyone who experienced Tennis Elbow back when WiiSports came out, Drag x Drive’s bodily wear-and-tear will be familiar. 

The mouse’s controls are good — better than I expected, in fact. They feel snappy, and I was able to pull off some higher-level maneuvers when I got used to it. And as you move, you can feel a subtle vibration in each hand to help you dial in how much force you’re inputting. Moving the controllers at different speeds will adjust the turning radius. Braking (by pressing the R or L buttons) can be done independently of each wheel to further your control. There are even tricks you can pull off by using breaking and lifting the controllers in specific combinations, which the game points out will help you perform more advanced blocks and interceptions. 

Controls are the big novelty of Drag x Drive and take time to get used to, though the court and game modes offer their own unique challenges. 

Read more: I Played Donkey Kong Bananza. It’s the Switch 2’s Killer Ape

Moderately deep mechanics for a $20 game

The primary mode is a 3-minute three-on-three game that’s reminiscent of Rocket League (without the jetpacks). There’s an indicator always pointing toward the oversized ball. Rolling into it will pick it up. If you’re going fast enough (represented by a flashing light on your back) and crashing into someone head-on will knock it loose. And if you raise one of the joy-cons off the surface, you will lift the ball, flicking your wrist will make a shot. 

Since the court is kind of a skateboard-style bowl, you can even roll up into the air from the sides and shoot or dunk from above. These trick shots will award players with more granular points, for example, an aerial shot might award you 2.3 instead of the standard two you’d see in typical basketball. But you can still land a three-pointer from outside the boundary, but you’ll have to be lined up real well while the other five players aren’t slamming into you.

Defense also works just like you’d expect, with positioning playing the most important role. Pressing the R and L buttons together will pass the ball to a teammate. If an opponent is in the way, they can intercept. This is key since I witnessed many teams pass a ball way down the court to an isolated player while we tried to race after them to stop the shot. Like every sport, you’ll want to spread out and cover someone instead of clumping all together around the ball, like most new players often do.

While Drag x Drive curiously doesn’t refer to anything as a wheelchair (or even highlight the awesome and inclusive sport of wheelchair basketball), it’s really wonderful to see this representation. The characters can also be swapped out for one of three unit types: defense, forward or guard, all with different speed and power stats. From there, you can customise your character’s outfit and gear, with more to unlock as you play. 

Outside of the online play, there are also nine different bot difficulties you can take on, so the game is playable in single player. There are also several minigames stationed around the hub area. These include a timed race and a rebound mode where you need to chase after a bouncing ball in the hub before time runs out. They’re pretty short and not all that interesting, but they will reward you with medals to unlock gear. There are also some obstacles positioned around to play with. One example is a giant jump rope that you can bunny hop over. 

There isn’t a typical career or story campaign to work through — the main draw is the one core multiplayer mode. Considering the low $20 entry price, I wouldn’t expect anything super in-depth, making this more of a unique application of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons’ mouse mode than a long-lasting play experience. 

Drag x Drive is a shallow experience, but the skill ceiling has a lot of potential. Its low entry price makes it an easy recommendation, even if you’re just interested in trying out the new mouse controls that the Switch 2 offers. If Nintendo chooses to support the game with more content in the future, I would love to see limited-time events and more game modes get added, building on the bones of one of the most unique sports games to come out in years. 

Drag x Drive comes out on Switch 2 on Thursday. 

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Technologies

Bag the Premium Sonos Ace ANC Headphones for Just $299 in Your Choice of Color

Save $100 on a new pair of high-end ANC headphones while you still can.

It might have taken longer than anyone expected, but Sonos’ entry into the premium ANC headphone market soon made waves. The Sonos Ace headphones come with everything that we expect in 2025, including a hefty price tag.

But, thankfully, most retailers are now offering a solid discount that slashes the price to just $399. That price means that you’re saving $100 off the usual asking price without the need to do anything special — no coupons and no codes are needed. You can also choose between the black and white models when ordering, but we don’t know how long this new price will last. Consider placing your order soon, before it’s too late.

CNET’s headphones expert David Carnoy liked the Sonos Ace a lot, remarking that «overall, they deliver a more premium listening experience, as well as better noise-canceling and voice-calling performance» than many other options at this premium price range, but did state that the price tag itself was an issue. They’re comfortable, have strong spatial audio and they look good to boot. 

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

These headphones boast support for lossless audio via Bluetooth and their USB-C port, while plush memory foam ear pads ensure a comfortable fit all day long. You’ll also get up to 30 hours of battery life even with ANC enabled, while just three minutes on the charger gets you up to three hours of playback.

The newness of the Sonos Ace headphones and the rarity of Sonos deals make this one of the best headphone deals right now, especially if you like having the latest devices. 

HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

The Sonos Ace headphones are currently available at a significant discount. You can save $100 on these if you’re quick. This is very nearly the lowest price we’ve seen, so we recommend ordering your new headphones sooner rather than later.

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Technologies

Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Aug. 13, #1516: Did You Know This Word?

Here are hints and the answer for today’s super-difficult Wordle for Aug. 13, No. 1,516

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a pretty tough one. It describes a drink that most Americans have probably never tried before, and the letters aren’t super common, either. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has two vowels.

Wordle hint No. 3: Start letter.

Today’s Wordle answer begins with K.

Wordle hint No. 4:Drink up

Today’s Wordle refers to a beverage.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer refers to a fermented milk drink with a sour taste, which originates from the Caucasus Mountains.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is KEFIR.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Aug. 12, No. 1515 was NOMAD.

Recent Wordle answers

Aug. 8, No. 1511: IMBUE

Aug. 9, No. 1512: NASAL

Aug. 10, No. 1513: MINTY

Aug. 11, No. 1514: SOUTH

What’s the best Wordle starting word?

Don’t be afraid to use our tip sheet ranking all the letters in the alphabet by frequency of uses. In short, you want starter words that lean heavy on E, A and R, and don’t contain Z, J and Q. 

Some solid starter words to try:

ADIEU

TRAIN

CLOSE

STARE

NOISE

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