Wallet cards make proof of COVID-19 vax easy in Sask.

Wallet card graphic courtesy Saskatchewan Health Authority.

It is really simple to prove you are vaccinated for COVID-19, if you live in Saskatchewan.

All you have to do is show your wallet card.

It seems like a lot of people are spending needless energy freaking out over the fact on Thursday the Government of Saskatchewan put in a public health order that stated on October 1 people will have to show proof they are vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19) in order to engage in various entertainment venues or to access some non-essential businesses.

Proof of vaccination will be required at indoor dining at restaurants, nightclubs, bars, taverns and other licensed establishments.

You will also need proof of vaccination to get into event and entertainment venues including conference centres, casinos, movie theatres, concert venues, live-music venues, museums and indoor facilities hosting ticketed events.

Those going to indoor fitness centres and gyms will also have to show proof of being vaccinated for COVID-19.

Proof of a negative COVID-19 test will also allow people to get into the entertainment venues and non-essential businesses that were listed above.

Children under the age of 12 are exempt from the proof of vaccination or negative test requirement.

On Thursday, there was no mention anywhere if the wallet cards issued by the Saskatchewan Health Authority when people got their COVID-19 shots could be used as proof of vaccination. It was foggy if they would be accepted for that purpose.

On Monday, Government of Saskatchewan did clarify that wallet cards with vaccine details will be accepted as proof of vaccination for COVID-19. That likely came to great relief from a lot of people in the senior age group who might not have mobile phones and struggle to get online.

There should have never been any question as to whether the wallet cards issued by the Saskatchewan Health Authority could be used for that purpose.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority spent the money and went through the process of creating those wallet cards. Those cards show if a person is fully vaccinated or not.

While the Government of Saskatchewan wanted to avoid scenarios that required proof of vaccination, issuing the wallet cards was a nice measure to get ahead of the curve, if a proof of vaccination requirement was needed in the province.

Wallet cards allowed people to enter Roughriders games.

At the moment, Saskatchewan residents have used those wallet cards to show proof of vaccination when they visit other provinces and run into situations where proof of vaccination is required.

Wallet cards were also used as proof of vaccination to get into Friday’s CFL regular season game at Mosaic Stadium, where the host Saskatchewan Roughriders downed the Toronto Argonauts 30-16.

On Monday, the Government of Saskatchewan released that new COVID-19 vaccination records with Quick Response codes would be available.

The new documents are available for people with MySaskHealthRecord accounts and will replace the provincial COVID-19 vaccination records launched in August. MySaskHealthRecord accounts and a COVID-19 vaccination certificate with a QR code can be created and accessed online.

The QR code document can be downloaded/saved, printed and viewed on mobile devices.

You can a printed copy of your COVID-19 vaccination records through a local public health office at a cost of $20 per person. The Saskatchewan Health Authority said it may take a few weeks to get those records via that route.

There is no cost going the online route to get those records.

Domestically, it is a big plus to be able to use the wallet cards issued by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. If you have gone through the process to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and have been given that physical card, it is only fitting you use those cards as proof of vaccination, and you don’t have to pressured to stressed to get other documents for that purpose.

Also, the fact Saskatchewan residents have wallet cards will ease up the stress on Saskatchewan Health Authority and Government of Saskatchewan resources with regards to potential surges to get proof of vaccination documents online or in person.

If you are travelling abroad, it is prudent to get the QR code. The new COVID-19 vaccination certificates with the digital QR codes issued by the Government of Saskatchewan supports proof of vaccination at border entry and is aligned with work the federal government is undertaking on a national solution on that front.

It is also prudent if you are traveling abroad to find out what COVID-19 requirements you have to fulfill in the country you are visiting. You might have to supply a negative COVID-19 test or possibly still quarantine even if you are fully vaccinated when you travel to another country.

If you don’t take those steps when traveling abroad, you increase the risk of your trip getting disrupted.

Overall, the proof of vaccination system for COVID-19 is rounding into good shape in Saskatchewan thanks to the fact wallet cards, printed records or downloaded QR codes can be used.

As of Monday, people don’t have to get overly worked up over this development. There should be an avenue that meets the needs of each person.

If you have any comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them to stankssports@gmail.com.

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