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Heads of state unveiled Hawaii’s SMART health card on Wednesday, which will launch on Friday.
The state-issued digital health card can be used to provide confirmation of a COVID-19 vaccination to businesses or locations that need it.
People who have received two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of Johnson & Johnson, followed by a 14-day waiting period, are eligible for the digital card.
“Information on vaccines provided by individuals will be automatically verified against the state’s immunization database,” Governor David Ige said at a press conference on Wednesday. “This will help prevent the use of fake vaccination cards.”
The program is free and voluntary.
“It is strictly a convenience for residents who have been vaccinated here in the state of Hawaii,” Ige said. “The card gives individuals a convenient option to view their vaccination status on their digital device instead of showing proof of vaccination via the vaccination card or other physical document.”
Doug Murdock, chief information officer, Office of Enterprise Technology Services, said the digital cards follow the format recommended by the Vaccine Credential Initiative, a national and international standard developed in collaboration with the healthcare, travel and hospitality industries. information technology.
The SMART card format is also used in other states such as New York and California.
According to Murdock, the health card feature is being integrated into the state’s Safe Travels platform at travel.hawaii.gov.
“It was the fastest way for us to develop it and make it available,” he said. “… We hope that SMART Health Cards will help us keep our economy open while operating in a safe and healthy environment. “
To access the card, create an account or use an existing Safe Travels account at travel.hawaii.gov and click on the SMART Health Card logo.
Individuals must then take and upload a photo of their immunization card and enter their vaccine information.
Once validated by the system, the user will receive a QR code that can be presented to businesses or other establishments that require proof of vaccination.
However, the Hawaii SMART Health Card QR code cannot be used for travel within the state.
Travelers arriving in Hawaii should always use the travel exemption / exception feature on the Safe Travels platform to receive a travel entry QR code.
“We have other plans to expand the SMART health card in the future,” Murdock said. “This is our first iteration, but we wanted to make it available as soon as possible. “
The state hopes to add provisions for negative COVID-19 testing to the system in the future, he said.
Honolulu City and County Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Maui County Mayor Mike Victorino have “moved aggressively” and implemented plans to demand proof of vaccination, Ige said. or negative COVID-19 test results for customers and employees entering restaurants or other entertainment venues in their respective counties.
The digital health card supports these efforts.
There are currently no plans to implement similar “vaccine passport” programs in Hawaii County, according to Cyrus Johnasen, spokesman for Mayor Mitch Roth.
“At the moment, we don’t think this is the right program to encourage vaccination on our island,” Johnasen said Wednesday. “However, we will continue to monitor what is happening in Oahu and Maui, and see what our numbers look like, especially in our hospitals, going forward.”
Email Stephanie Salmons at [email protected].
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