DOH launches WA Verify: State’s new Digital COVID-19 Verification Record system

OLYMPIA – As the need for COVID-19 vaccine verification increases across the state, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) wants to ensure people are prepared and know how to prove their vaccination status when it is required. Vaccine verification options now include QR code functionality through WA Verify, the state’s new Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record system.

Currently, there are several forms of proof people can use to verify their vaccination status:

• Original, copy, or photo of your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card

• Verified electronic medical record printout from your medical provider

• Your record from the state’s immunization information system, which can include:

  • A Digital COVID-19 Verification Record from WAVerify.org, which includes a QR code that can be scanned by a SMART Health Card reader, or

  • A certificate of COVID-19 Vaccination from MyIR Mobile

Depending on the establishment, some places may only accept one specific type of vaccine verification, so it is important to check ahead of time.

“More businesses, events, and employers are requiring people to be vaccinated. We ask that you respect the rules of the room and be prepared in advance to show the type of vaccination proof requested,” said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health. “If you have plans to go to an event or want to grab dinner with a friend, please do not wait until the last minute to verify your vaccination status – prepare ahead of time by taking those steps today.”

Realizing the overarching need for QR code functionality as a necessity for quick and easy vaccine verification, DOH’s Office of Innovation and Technology, working closely with partners at MITRE, Microsoft, and the state of California, stood up WA Verify.

WA Verify is Washington’s new Digital COVID-19 Verification Record system that draws COVID-19 records from the state’s immunization system. To use the tool, people enter their name, date of birth, and an email or phone number associated with their vaccination record. If the information matches an official record, they will receive a text or email with a link to their Digital COVID-19 Vaccine Record. WA Verify currently supports more than 30 languages, with additional languages available soon. For more information, visit WA Verify’s Frequently Asked Questions page.

“I am excited to see Washington State offer verifiable vaccine records to its residents. The fact that Washington has translated their system into over 30 languages and shared that content publicly on GitHub for other states to leverage is inspiring. When we created SMART Health Cards, we wanted to empower individuals with an open, secure, privacy-preserving tool to access their health records. Seeing SMART Health Cards applied to COVID-19 to help communities across Washington reopen safely is a reminder of the power of interoperable technology,” said Josh Mendel, Chief Architect, Microsoft Healthcare and SMART Health IT.

Those who have questions or need help accessing their vaccination records can call the state’s COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #. Language assistance is available.

Everyone 5 and older is currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. To find a vaccine provider near, visit Vaccine Locator. If you have questions, visit DOH’s COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions webpage or talk to your trusted health care provider.

The DOH website is your source for a healthy dose of information. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for the DOH blog, Public Health Connection.