Should you laminate your CDC COVID-19 vaccine card?
Now that millions of Americans have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United States, people everywhere are wondering what they should do with their vaccine cards.
Right now, the only way to confirm a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19 is with a physical paper card from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So, Americans are finding creative ways to protect their vaccine cards, from stowing them inside a safe to making digital copies.
Some stores have even offered to laminate vaccine cards for free -- but should you?
It depends on who you ask, really, because no agency has given a definitive answer.
TPG reached out to the CDC, who referred questions about vaccine cards and travel to the White House, who referred questions about vaccine cards and travel to the CDC. The CDC has taken the lead on the distribution of the vaccine cards, while the response to the pandemic is led by the White House COVID-19 Response Team. We’ll update this story if either respond.
Can you laminate your CDC vaccine card?
Certain destinations, tour operators and travel providers may require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination, or accept proof of vaccination as an alternative to strict testing and quarantine requirements.
Streamlining those processes is something the travel industry has been working on in the form of digital vaccine passports. You may not have to travel with your vaccine card in the future if you’re using a digital health app or vaccine passport. Many are still in development, so you’ll have to keep your vaccine card safe in the meantime.
Staples, Office Depot and Office Max will laminate your vaccine card for free, according to CNN. The Staples offer doesn’t have an expiration date, but the Office Depot offer is available through July 25, 2021, and you must bring a coupon to be eligible.
Many travelers TPG spoke to said they’d either laminated their cards or considered doing so. The CDC didn’t directly answer a TPG reporter’s question about whether people should laminate their COVID-19 vaccine cards, so there’s no guidance from the federal government right now.
However, several travelers who reached out to TPG said they were either warned against laminating or irreparably damaged their cards after laminating. Travelers reported the stickers on their cards with vaccine information were thermal-sensitive and turned black after laminating.
It's still unclear, however, whether people will need booster shots in the future, so some travelers are wary of laminating their cards.
“I'm not laminating [my card] in case they need to add a booster dose to it,” Michele LaFevre said in TPG's Facebook group.
Instead, you might want to consider using a clear badge if you’re worried about your card getting damaged, as one TPG reader suggested.
“[My card is] in a plastic badge holder, and stored in our safe with our passports and other important documents,” said Faith Dowgin. “We also scanned them and took [pictures].”
Related: 3 things to know about your CDC vaccine card
Keep your vaccine card safe
No matter what, you don’t want to lose or damage your vaccination card.
That means you should treat it like you would your credit cards, driver’s license or passport. You should store it in a secure location, like a safe or a desk drawer, at all times. A friend of mine needed to have her vaccine card replaced after it got wet in her wallet, so if you plan to keep it on your person, make sure it doesn’t get damp or bent.
The CDC recommends that vaccine administrators record vaccine information in a patient’s medical record. All COVID-19 vaccination providers are required to report data within 72 hours in their state’s immunization system.
So, there will likely be a back-up record of your vaccination status in the event you do lose your card.
Related: You finally got vaccinated: Here’s what you’ll need for a digital health passport
Bottom line
There’s been very little guidance about what people should do with their CDC COVID-19 vaccine cards after being inoculated. While it’s unclear, right now, whether travelers should laminate their cards, your best bet for keeping your card safe is to store it in a secure location until you absolutely need to use it.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
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Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.