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Sask. launches QR code for vaccination records

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REGINA -

Saskatchewan has updated individual COVID-19 vaccination records to include a QR code, giving residents an easier way to verify their vaccine status.

The government announced anyone with a MySaskHealthRecord account is now able to view the new vaccination record.

The vaccination record includes the person’s name, type of vaccine administered, date, country of issuance and a lot number.

“We have removed that which is an interim process for three to four months in which case after that we will re-instate the pin process, we feel that this will provide quick access,” Davin Church, VP of program and technology at eHealth Saskatchewan said.

High traffic on the website was causing issues, but now a queue system has been added to the site to keep it from crashing with the influx of visits.

"This is the next, improved, version of Saskatchewan's COVID-19 vaccination record," Health Minister Paul Merriman said.

"It has been something that travelers, businesses and organizations have been asking for. With the announcement last week of stronger measures being introduced to help curb the transmission of COVID-19, I encourage anyone eligible for vaccination in Saskatchewan to get their vaccines, and to get their COVID-19 vaccine certificate from MySaskHealthRecord.

The government said wallet cards showing vaccines administered will also be considered acceptable proof of vaccination.

The QR codes can be scanned by the SK Vax Verifier app. The app will show a green indicator to verify if a person if fully vaccinated and a red indicator to show they are not. The province said information is secures and is not viewed, saved, or retained in the scanning process.

Dr. Alexander Wong, an infectious disease specialist, said the implementation of the masks and proof-of-vaccination is good for flattening our curve.

“The problem is the impact of those things in the short term is going to be relatively limited,” Wong said.

He said the significant uptick in vaccine uptake in recent days isn’t a surprise given then upcoming proof-of-vaccination policy.

“The only regret is we didn’t do this eight weeks earlier, it would’ve made a big difference for us in terms of our curve but better late than never,” he said.

By the end of September, the Government of Saskatchewan will launch the Saskatchewan Vaccine Wallet App on the Google Play or Apple App stores, which will allow residents to download their vaccine record and have it easily accessible on their phone.

The province said this new format supports proof of vaccination at border entry if travelling internationally. It is also aligned with the federal government’s efforts towards a national solution.

Last week, the premier announced that a proof-of-vaccination policy would be implemented starting Oct. 1.

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