I learned something about COVID-19 Vaccination Records in Minnesota

[MineralMan]

today at my annual Medicare Wellness Visit. I got my two Moderna shots at a state mass vaccination site set up in the Minneapolis Convention center at the end of February and March. I got the vaccination card, and have it in my wallet. When the physician's assistant went through the usual pre-doctor routine, she looked at my chart on the computer. "I see you got your COVID vaccinations."

It turns out that that state vaccination center sent the records of my shots to my health care clinic, based on the Medicare Advantage plan card I presented before being vaccinated. Quickly, too. It has been just under two weeks since my second shot.

I didn't need to pull out my vaccination card at all.

I don't know what other states are doing, but I know now why Minnesota wanted to get my insurance information. It's all going in a database, which automatically feeds that information to my insurer, which feeds it to the clinic you use through their own system.

Invasion of privacy? Well, I think that's great in this case. I showed my card and my health care system automatically knows that I got the shots. That is a good thing. Sometimes sharing of information is important.

[dalton99a]

1. Other states maintain similar databases

e.g. Texas: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunize/immtrac/default.shtm

[MineralMan]

2. I wonder if some states, however, do not.

We have some backward states in the USA, for sure.

[NightWatcher]

3. Why did you think you kept showing your id to people when you got your shots?

Thats where the vax passports will come from.

[Treefrog]

4. This has posed a question for me. Everyone I know has shown ID and insurance info (if insured).

So what about the argument that some people have no ID and therefore cannot vote in states with ID laws? Are these people getting vaccinated? I’ve still not gotten my shot due to ineligibility, but I will tomorrow as I take a road trip to another state. But I was asked a lot of info while making my appointment and told to bring ID and insurance card.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

6. I wasn't asked for ID when I got my shot.

My buddy just used his work ID for a shot.


The problem with voter ID is the type of ID the states will allow. States like Texas are purposely not allowing school IDs but will accept firearm IDs.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. ID, Yes. Insurance Card, No.

Neither my wife nor I showed any insurance info. And, we got our shots in different counties. (Long story.)
Literally, nobody I know showed insurance cards for their vax.
What state are you in? We're in Illinois.

[Brother Buzz]

5. I suspect HIPPA protocol was totally maintained

[MineralMan]

7. Perhaps.

[Treefrog]

8. HIPAA.

[Brother Buzz]

9. Gotcha!

[TheRealNorth]

10. Minnesota has MIIC (Minnesota Immunization Information Connection)

https://www.health.state.mn.us/people/immunize/miic/public.html

Wisconsin has a similar system (although the Wisconsin system allows you to access your record if you provide your SSN or Medicaid number) called WIR (Wisconsin Immunization Registry). https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/immunization/wir.htm