"True Digital Vaccination Passports Are the Key to Combatting Counterfeit Inoculation Documents"
In the current landscape, the United States does not have a federally mandated digital COVID-19 vaccine passport system [3]. Instead, vaccine proof primarily remains a paper-based CDC COVID-19 vaccination card or various digital records maintained by state or private apps, with no universal federal digital verification system in place to combat counterfeit vaccination cards.
Some states have begun to explore digital vaccine credentials, but no universal system is yet implemented [3]. For instance, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) started accepting digital IDs or mobile driver's licenses (mDLs) from certain states for domestic travel identification as of May 2025, but this is related to identity verification and not specifically vaccine passports or COVID-19 vaccines [1].
The use of paper CDC cards remains the primary proof accepted, and states' digital records vary in adoption, with no federal standard [3]. Private digital apps like CommonPass also exist, allowing users to present digital proof of vaccination or negative tests, but these are voluntary and not federally regulated [3].
Counterfeit vaccination cards pose a significant challenge, and there is no specific federal law requiring a standardized digital vaccine passport to prevent their use [3]. However, some anti-fraud measures have been implemented in immigration documents [4].
Congress could play a role in addressing this issue by putting pressure on states to permit and deploy digital vaccine passports. Some states, like New York and New Jersey, are considering new laws that would make possessing or forging fake vaccination cards a state-level crime [3].
New York's Excelsior Pass, for example, allows residents to securely prove their vaccination status or negative test result from their mobile device [3]. On the other hand, some states have preemptively banned vaccine passports [3].
Advocacy groups argue that Congress should pass legislation requiring e-commerce platforms to verify the identities of sellers to crack down on the sale of fake vaccination cards [3]. Online retailers like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay have already taken action to remove such listings [3].
Law enforcement agencies are right to crack down on both those using and distributing fake vaccination cards, and penalties for their use or distribution can be severe. It is illegal to buy, use, or sell fraudulent COVID-19 vaccine cards bearing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seal, and offenders can face steep fines and up to five years in prison [3].
In summary, efforts to combat counterfeit vaccine cards depend on state and private sector innovations, verification at points of entry or events, but without uniform federal digital vaccine passport legislation as of now [1][3][4]. The government could issue electronic IDs as a secure way for individuals to electronically prove their identity or aspects of their identity, which could potentially be extended to include vaccination status in the future.
- The current landscape in the United States lacks a federally mandated digital COVID-19 vaccine passport system, relying primarily on paper-based CDC cards and varied digital records maintained by states or private apps.
- Advocacy groups propose that Congress should pass legislation, urging e-commerce platforms to verify sellers' identities to curb the sale of fake vaccination cards online.
- Some states, like New York, have started developing digital vaccine credentials, such as the Excelsior Pass, allowing residents to securely prove their vaccination status or negative test results using their mobile devices.
- Counterfeit vaccination cards present a significant challenge, and while some anti-fraud measures have been implemented in immigration documents, a lack of specific federal law requiring standardized digital vaccine passports hinders progress in combating their use.
