Looking for a vaccine card in Alberta? You won't need a MyHealth Records account after all
The provincial government, with less than 24 hours to go before new COVID-19 guidelines come into force in Alberta, made it simpler for residents to acquire a document proving they've been vaccinated.
Instead of working through the MyHealth Records account system, the government has rolled out a streamlined method bypassing registration for the service, which was plagued by technical issues as late as last week.
By entering your health card number, date of birth and the month when you acquired at least one of the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the system provides a downloadable and printable record in seconds.
The card displays all the relevant information about the vaccine, including the type and the date when it was administered. It's also available to all Albertans aged 12 years old and up.
It does not provide a QR code or any other health records about the patient.
However, anyone who's received their shot recently may not be able to access their information, the province's website says.
"It can take up to three weeks for your online records to be updated after your vaccination. If your record isn’t in the system, use the paper copy from your appointment and try again later."
Any Albertans who don't acquire a printable card or through the MyHealth Records process can still use their existing immunization records as proof of vaccination, the province says.
"Work is also underway to make proof of vaccination available through a QR code. A QR code will be an easier, faster and more secure way to share the immunization record when needed. The QR code is expected to be available in the coming weeks."
PHONY CARDS AN ISSUE?
While many Albertans were already praising the convenience and speed of the printable vaccination documents, others highlighted what they saw as a flaw.
People noted how easy it was to build a fraudulent proof of vaccination using a simple tool available on most computers.
The provice says "motivated individuals" definitely have the power to create a false immunization record, but it's against the law to do so.
"It’s important to point out that falsifying a health record is an offense under Health Information Act," said Amanda Krumins, assistant communications director for Alberta Health in an email to CTV News.
"That said, we know the vast majority of Albertans will use the system properly and adhere to the legal requirements set out in the current public health orders."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.