iOS 15.1 Beta Lets Users Add COVID Vaccination Card to Wallet App

[MacRumors]

The iOS 15.1 beta that was introduced today allows iPhone users to upload their COVID-19 vaccination status to the Health app and then generate a vaccination card in Apple Wallet.

The Apple Wallet vaccination card can be shown to businesses, venues, restaurants, and more that are requiring vaccines for entry.

As outlined in an announcement to developers, verifiable health records are based on the SMART Health Cards specification. California is using SMART Health Cards, so users in California can add their vaccination records to the Wallet app after installing iOS 15.1.

Other states and health organizations that use the SMART Health Cards will be able to use a button to let users know that they can download and store their vaccination information in the Health app and in the Wallet app.

California, Louisiana, New York, Virginia, Hawaii, and some Maryland counties support Smart Health Cards, as do Walmart, Sam's Club, and CVS Health. So those in the specific supported states should be able to look up their information in state databases, but those who were vaccinated through companies like Walmart and CVS will also be able to add their information to the Health and Wallet apps because it's the same system.

Note that some apps like the one used by the NHS in the UK allowed users to add their vaccination records to the Wallet app, but the new solution is a universal standard that will work for all healthcare providers/states that implement it.

Discussion should be limited to the app and implementation, and not politics.

Article Link: iOS 15.1 Beta Lets Users Add COVID Vaccination Card to Wallet App

 

[The Barron]

Cool - I love being able to store critical docs, tickets, boarding passes, etc. in Apple Wallet.

 

[macsplusmacs]

Finally.

 

[Caliber26]

How does this even work? You manually type in your info? Does it pull/verify from somewhere?

 

[FedLawClerk]

That’s great.

 

[lkrupp]

With fake vaccination cards already on the loose does it really mean anything?

 

[BWhaler]

This is fantastic. I have no idea how Georgia (my state) will get my vaccination information, but I hope it's seamless. Fingers crossed...

 

[RedTheReader]

Like drivers's licenses, I can see many people finding this to be one of the most useful additions to Wallet since it was introduced. Unfortunately, for most people (even in the US), they might as well not even exist because they're not available in most states. Also, so few places here take NFC that I'm sure most of us wouldn't be ditching our wallets anyway.

 

[macsplusmacs]

With fake vaccination cards already on the loose does it really mean anything?

it will prob require scanning in a legit qr code that will link to an online database as verfication.

 

[BWhaler]

With fake vaccination cards already on the loose does it really mean anything?

Did you even read the 20 word article? It clearly states that it pulls directly from SMART Health card data provided by the state.

 

[jclo]

How does this even work? You manually type in your info? Does it pull/verify from somewhere?

You do not type in your info. This is pulled from my California state vaccination records and uses the SMART Health Cards specification.

 

[iOS Geek]

This along with drivers's licenses are some of the most useful additions to Wallet I've seen since it was introduced. Unfortunately, for most people (even in the states), they may not even exist because they're not available in their state. I hope to see that change in the not-too-distant future.

I'd be surprised if my state (Illinois) gets on board with this. It didn't even jump in on the exposure notifications.

This state is too broke to spend money on this stuff, apparently 😂 Even Wisconsin has exposure notifications. I get an "availability alert" for them in Wisconsin every time I cross the state line.

 

[arefbe]

What "iOS 15.1 update that was introduced today"? Not seeing it on my phone. It says 15.0 is "up to date". Edit: The word "BETA" was left out of the article's original headline. From a Mac Rumors editor: Sorry, iOS 15.1 is a developer beta. I've clarified in the title and the body of the article.

 

[btrach144]

Anyone have a list of states that will use SMART besides California?

 

[jclo]

What "iOS 15.1 update that was introduced today"? Not seeing it on my phone. It says 15.0 is "up to date".

Sorry, iOS 15.1 is a developer beta. I've clarified in the title and the body of the article.

 

[rjohnstone]

How does this even work? You manually type in your info? Does it pull/verify from somewhere?

It pulls the data from your medical provider. Issue is most people didn't get vaccinated at their own doctor's office.
The list of providers is very limited right now, mine isn't on the list, so this update is useless for me.

 

[Ion-X]

Great feature. Vaccine apps are becoming more and more commonly used where I live and hopefully will be required at more places around the world.

 

[nikhsub1]

I already had mine for a long time via Heathvana...

 

[frumpy16]

How does this even work? You manually type in your info? Does it pull/verify from somewhere?

It's right in the article.

verifiable health records are based on the SMART Health Cards specification

 

[Bazooka-joe]

In the UK, the NHS app allows you to add your Covid-19 vaccination status to the Apple wallet. Very handy when required

 

[Ion-X]

[Admin edit: this is a non-political thread. politics are not allowed]

 

[tekchic]

Oh, Arizona... guess I won't be able to use this Still keeping a photo of my paper vax card on my phone.

 

[caloon]

it will prob require scanning in a legit qr code that will link to an online database as verfication.

Except you just need some code to add a card to Apple Wallet. It‘s very easy to do. As long as these QR codes aren‘t routinely controlled, it‘s not really a high security solution.

 

[TVGenius]

Unfortunate that those of us in states like AZ that continue to not do anything logical can't make any use of these types of things... even though we frequently will travel to states like CA where having it would be invaluable and hella convenient.

 

[fwmireault]

For my canadian folks, the two provinces that require vaccination card (Quebec and British Columbia) use the Smart health cards standard. It should be compatible