Mandating vaccines? How tracking tech can help with the next step
Oct. 7, 2021
By Phil Albinus, Human Resource Executive
With President Biden’s recent announcement that employers with at least 100 employees will soon need to start mandating vaccines or requiring weekly COVID-19 testing, technology like new vaccination tracking tools is being developed to help employees return safely back to the office.
Verifying vaccination status will also be key in giving the ability for employees to have more control over their health information. ID.me’s COVID-19 Vaccine ID, a solution that publishes an employee’s vaccination status in a digital wallet app after the employer has verified the information, is working on ensuring a safer workplace for everyone.
Here’s how ID.me’s tool works: Employees take a photo of their vaccination card or other proof of vaccination, such as a state immunization record, health provider record, SMART Health card or negative test result within 72 hours. Then, ID.me’s document review team examines the materials and either accepts or rejects them. The average response time is under 90 seconds, says Blake Hall, CEO and founder of ID.me.
“ID.me designs for inclusion-first, so the credential can be shared from a mobile phone or web page, a native app or printed as a paper copy,” Hall says. “We also verify test results.”
Employees have the option of sharing their vaccination status online after they log in and give consent to share with an organization, HR department or employer portal. They can also display their Vaccine ID for in-person access to the workplace, says Hall.