Samsung Galaxy phones can store proof of COVID vaccination in Samsung Pay

Samsung makes it easy to prove you’ve been vaccinated, right through to your Galaxy smartphone. The tech giant has partnered with healthcare nonprofit The Commons Project to securely store vaccination status digitally in Samsung Pay, giving you access to a bar or restaurant that requires you to show proof that you have received the vaccines for COVID-19.

After downloading the free CommonHealth app from the Google Play Store, follow the software authentication process. Once the app has securely verified your immunization status, you can then upload your COVID-19 vaccination record to the CommonHealth app and add it to Samsung Pay. Once the Smart Health Card is downloaded, it can be presented in restaurants, bars, airports or other places requiring proof of vaccination, as well as shared securely via a QR code.

The feature will be available for all Galaxy smartphones that support Samsung Pay by the end of this week. This includes virtually all Galaxy S devices from the 2015 Galaxy S6, the Note line from the 2015 Note 5, all Samsung foldables and his Galaxy A series including A32 5G and A50. Samsung Pay is also available on select Samsung smartwatches.

“As more consumers use their Samsung devices as a digital wallet, this is a natural extension to making COVID-19 vaccination records more easily accessible,” said Rob White, senior director of products for Samsung Pay at Samsung Electronics America, in a statement. declaration.

Much of the United States – and other countries around the world – reopened in late spring and early summer, but the outbreak of the highly contagious delta strain is now pushing some organizations and governments to change their plans. to prevent infections. Tech giants like Apple and Google have delayed their return to power, and many companies are now requiring their employees to be vaccinated. Masks are once again mandatory indoors in many places, and some cities, including New York and San Francisco, require residents and visitors to show proof of vaccination to enter restaurants, bars, gyms and other businesses. .

COVID-19 vaccination cards given to Americans are fragile and are oddly sized for wallets. For some people, it makes more sense to wear a photo of the card or access another verification through a phone. This is where Samsung’s new push comes in.

Storing the record in Samsung Pay should allow users to quickly access their immunization records. Samsung launched Samsung Pay, its mobile payment service for smartphones and portable devices, in 2015. The idea was for users to pay for items by waving their Galaxy device near a store checkout instead of swiping a card. credit. Since then, Samsung Pay has offered users the ability to add loyalty cards, receive cash back for certain purchases, and take advantage of promotions. Last year, Samsung even introduced its own debit card with SoFi and Mastercard.

The Commons Project – with its CommonHealth and CommonPass apps – is a verified and secure way for people to store proof of vaccination on their mobile devices. Other apps that provide the same service include Clear (which is best known for its offer that speeds people through airport security) and the New York Excelsior Pass.

IPhone users will have to wait until iOS 15 is available this fall to easily store their vaccination and lab information in the Apple Health app. In the meantime, there are workarounds to easily access vaccination records on an iPhone such as installing apps like YaxYes from GoGetDoc which then allow you to save the record to Apple Wallet.

How to add COVID-19 vaccination records to Samsung Pay:

1. Download the CommonHealth app from the Google Play Store and follow the instructions to check your immunization record.
2. Once you have access to the COVID-19 vaccine record in the CommonHealth app, click on the “Add to Samsung Pay” link.
3. Open Samsung Pay and click “Covid-19 Vaccine Pass” on the home page.