Safeguard this card as it has personal information on it, but also can be used if you are in a situation that requires you to show proof of vaccination.

What to do if you lose your vaccination card

The process for requesting COVID-19 vaccine confirmation is the same as for any vaccine.  

1. First contact the provider that administered your vaccine and ask for a replacement. The provider will have record of your vaccination and be able to quickly provide a new one.
2. Personal or family immunization records can be accessed digitally through the Docket mobile phone app.  Through the Docket app you can review past immunization reports, track upcoming shots, and share official immunization reports.
   • To get started, download the free app by searching “Docket” on the App Store or on Google Play.   Or, go directly through Docket. 
3. Contact your local health department and ask them to print an Official USIIS Personal Utah Immunization Record for you. All Utah local health departments use or are connected to Utah Statewide Immunization Information System (USIIS).
4. You can request your own or children’s immunization record by submitting the USIIS Immunization Record Request form. This form must be filled out completely and notarized. You can submit your form using the information below:
   • Mail: Immunization / USIIS Program
     P O Box 142012
     Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2012
   • Email: immunize@utah.gov
   • Fax: (801) 538-9440
     Immunization Record Release

It’s still unclear whether individuals will be required to carry their vaccination cards with them. Governor Cox has said vaccination passports will not be required on state college campuses or for entering state buildings. He said it would be left up to private businesses whether to require proof of vaccination or not.

Get more information on the COVID-19 vaccine on our vaccine information page.

Information for this post was taken from the state’s immunization website, more information on requesting proof of vaccination can be found at immunize.utah.gov.

The temporary benefit will help to lower the cost of broadband service for eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enrollment for the program begins on May 12, 2021.

“Broadband internet is vital for Utahns’ economic well-being, including participation in and access to online work, school, healthcare, and other essential services,” said Dan Hemmert, GOED’s executive director. “We know there are households that need to connect to the internet for essential services but can’t afford it. The Emergency Broadband Benefit will help to ensure every household in Utah has access to the benefits of online connection as we complete our pandemic recovery.”

The $3.2 billion program provides a discount of up to $50 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying tribal lands.

Additionally, the benefit provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the
purchase through a participating broadband provider.

Eligible households must include a member that meets one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in specific assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or the FCC’s Lifeline program
• Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision, in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year
• Experienced a substantial loss of income through job loss or furlough since Feb. 29, 2020, and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.

GOED, and its partners in the EBB program, realize the benefit is critical to ensuring as many Utah households are connected to broadband as possible.

“This program extends a low-cost opportunity for internet and computing devices to households who may not have qualified for previous programs like Lifeline,” said Utah State Librarian Chaundra Johnson. “The Utah State Library urges community partners to spread the word and make sure Utah’s most vulnerable populations have a chance to participate in this unique discount program.”

Additionally, this program will provide financial relief to historically underserved communities navigating increasingly digital spaces.

“The full use of digital tools and technology is imperative to a thriving and equitable society for multicultural communities and families in Utah,” said Nubia Peña, director of the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs.

Dr. Sydnee Dickson, superintendent of the Utah State Board of Education, commented, “We have to treat broadband as an essential utility, like electricity, to bridge the digital divide and resulting knowledge gap for families.”

Additional Information

Informational materials have been created by the organizations and will be available for statewide distribution. Visit GOED’s Emergency Broadband Benefit webpage for information about how to apply for the program.

Additional information about the Emergency Broadband Benefit is available at fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit or by calling 833-511-0311 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. (EDT) any day of the week.

Additional financial relief resources related to the pandemic can be found on our Community Resources page.

“This is the natural next step in getting the state and people’s lives back to normal,” Gov. Cox said. “I believe in the value of work. With the nation’s lowest unemployment rate at 2.9% and plenty of good paying jobs available today, it makes sense to transition away from these extra benefits that were never intended to be permanent. The market should not be competing with government for workers.”

Approximately 28,000 Utahns are currently receiving this additional $300-per-week federal benefit. Of those, 11,000 are receiving federal extended benefits, 2,500 individuals receive federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and 200 receive federal Mixed-Earner Unemployment Compensation. Currently, federal pandemic unemployment assistance in Utah totals $12.4 million a week. 

With the state’s economic recovery in full swing, there is no shortage of jobs in Utah. The Department of Workforce Services website, jobs.utah.gov, has 50,000 available job openings, while job listings aggregator Help Wanted shows 72,000 available jobs in Utah. 

“As employers compete for workers, we are ready to help those local businesses recruit and hire employees,” said Casey Cameron, executive director of the Department of Workforce Services. “For job seekers, we can provide career coaching, education assistance, job search help and more, either online or in-person at an employment center. For many workers, this transition can be a great time to gain additional skills and open doors to new opportunities.”

Utah’s business community applauded the move.

“All across Utah, in a variety of industries, we are seeing the significant need for new employees,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. “The challenge our economy currently faces is not the scarcity of well-paying jobs, but the lack of workers. For our state to remain a national economic leader and for our communities to be prosperous, we need to normalize the labor market by assisting those currently unemployed to find opportunities to rejoin the workforce as soon as possible.”

For those who need help finding employment, the state is an incredible resource. Through the Learn and Work program, the state of Utah and the Utah System of Higher Education have dedicated $16.5 million to help more than 5,700 individuals get training and find better employment opportunities. Over the next several weeks an additional $15 million will be awarded to training institutions throughout the state to help those who want to upgrade their skills to enhance employment opportunities. Funding is also available for career and education advancement through Workforce Services.

For those still struggling due to the pandemic, other safety net programs are available such as rent, utility, food and medical assistance. For more information about additional pandemic relief programs and details about the federal unemployment insurance programs ending, visit jobs.utah.gov.

The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) is encouraged by today’s news that the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to include adolescents 12 through 15 years of age.

As is the case with all vaccines, the UDOH recommends providers wait for final guidance from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) prior to administering COVID-19 vaccine to anyone ages 12-15 years. 

ACIP is currently scheduled to meet this Wednesday, May 12, and is expected to issue its recommendation during the meeting.  Individual providers will determine how quickly they can begin administering vaccine following ACIP’s guidance.

“There are approximately 215,000 Utah children in this age group and expanding vaccine access to them will push us even closer to the finish line in our battle against COVID-19,” said Dr. Michelle Hofmann, deputy director of the UDOH. “Data presented by Pfizer indicate its vaccine is highly effective at preventing COVID-19 in this age group. In fact, none of the clinical trial participants who received the vaccine ever became infected with COVID-19.”

To find a vaccination site and learn about Utah vaccine eligibility, visit our vaccine distribution webpage.

United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) and Utah 211 are calling the program the United Vaccine Access Campaign. UWSL partnered with Lyft and Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah to offer the free service.

As the county, state, and federal vaccine rollout continues, the Ride United Vaccine Access Campaign helps eligible people get the COVID-19 vaccine, even if they lack transportation.

“Utah 211 understands the barriers that contribute to the community’s social determinants of health. The Ride United Vaccine Access program allows Utah 211 to connect more Utahns to COVID vaccination appointments, bridging gaps and inequities that contribute to health disparities,” says Beth Martial, managing director of Utah 211. “At a local level, Utah 211 is honored to help contribute to our public health prevention strategies by providing equitable transportation resources.”

This free service is available in nine Utah counties: Box Elder, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, and Weber. Rides are available for 1^st and 2^nd doses and can be scheduled up to a week in advance through Utah 211. Riders should call 211 or visit 211utah.org for more information.

As part of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FEMA will provide financial assistance to families for COVID-19 funeral related expenses that were incurred after January 20, 2020.

The program is set to open in April. Guidance is still being finalized and will be distributed by FEMA when it’s available. Some general information on who qualifies for this reimbursement and how to apply follows. In the meantime, those with qualified expenditures are advised to begin the process of gathering documentation to make the application process go smoother. Additional information can be found in FEMA’s FAQ document.

Who is Eligible?

To be eligible for funeral assistance, you must meet these conditions:

• The death must have occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
• The death certificate must indicate the death was attributed to COVID-19.
• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien who incurred funeral expenses after January 20, 2020.
• There is no requirement for the deceased person to have been a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien.

How to Apply

In April, FEMA will begin accepting applications. If you had COVID-19 funeral expenses, we encourage you to keep and gather documentation. Types of information should include:

• An official death certificate that attributes the death directly or indirectly to COVID-19 and shows that the death occurred in the United States, including the U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.
• Funeral expenses documents (receipts, funeral home contract, etc.) that includes the applicant’s name, the deceased person’s name, the amount of funeral expenses, and the dates the funeral expenses happened.
• Proof of funds received from other sources specifically for use toward funeral costs. We are not able to duplicate benefits received from burial or funeral insurance, financial assistance received from voluntary agencies, government agencies, or other sources.

How are Funds Received

If you are eligible for funeral assistance you will receive a check by mail, or funds by direct deposit, depending on which option you choose when you apply for assistance.

“What a tremendous testament to the innovative and collaborative spirit in Utah, one that has allowed us to lead the nation in such an important way. Utah has shown a commitment to the total health of children by working together to balance risks, build bridges, and use every available resource to get students back to in-person learning safely,” said Dr. Michelle Hofmann, deputy director at the Utah Department of Health. “This recognition is well-deserved and we have so much and so many partners to be thankful for. We look forward to seeing where this goes next, as we adapt and respond together on behalf of the well-being of our students and teachers.”

The Utah COVID-19 School Manual was one of the first guidance documents in the country designed to help school administrators navigate the complexities of operating in-person learning as safely as possible during the pandemic. In addition, the Test to Play and Test to Stay programs provide assurance to school administrators and parents that schools and extracurricular activity programs continue to operate safely. 

When most Utah schools reopened for in-person instruction in fall 2020, the Utah Department of Health, with support from researchers from the University of Utah’s Health and Economic Recovery Outreach (HERO) project, observed COVID-19 rates were higher among youth aged 15–24 years than among younger students. With a commitment from the federal government to provide a stable supply of BinaxNOW tests earmarked for K-12 schools, the Utah Department of Health prioritized distributing tests to high schools throughout the state, and developed the Test to Play and Test to Stay programs. 

The Test to Play program lets students safely participate in extracurricular activities.

Test to Play was implemented in November 2020 by a state public health order. The goal of Test to Play is to allow students and staff to participate in extracurricular activities as safely as possible. If masks are not worn during the activity, extracurricular activities may be higher-risk environments than school classrooms. Regular testing can find students and staff who are infectious with COVID-19 quickly and help prevent further spread of the virus in the school and community. Under the program, students, teachers, and staff may participate in extracurricular activities if they:

• Are tested for COVID-19 at least once every 14 days. 
• Are not in isolation or quarantine. 
• Don’t have any symptoms of COVID-19.

The Test to Stay program is effective at keeping schools open for in-person learning.

Test to Stay was implemented in January 2021 by a policy outlined in the Utah COVID-19 School Manual. The goals of Test to Stay are to allow students and staff to participate in in-person learning as safely as possible, while lessening the burden quarantine and repeated soft closures have on students and their families, teachers, and school administrators. When a school meets outbreak thresholds outlined in the COVID-19 School Manual, the local education authority (in consultation with the local health department) can decide to either:

• Offer rapid antigen testing for all students and staff, or
• Take other actions consistent with public health guidance to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Testing students and staff on a statewide scale is feasible and can help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

A survey conducted with school administrators in February 2021 by the Utah Department of Health showed: 

• Low positivity rates in Test to Stay and Test to Play events. This indicates using these types of testing strategies, along with guidelines in the COVID-19 School Manual, make a difference and help to stop the spread of COVID-19 among school populations.
• Sixty-one percent of school administrators who responded to the survey feel the Test to Stay program has effectively kept schools open for in-person learning. 
• Test to Stay events helped students’ families feel more comfortable and confident sending students to school. 
• Test to Stay events increased community buy-in for future testing events and mitigation strategies. 

The Utah Department of Health, with support and commitment from the Utah State Board of Education, Utah High School Activities Association, local school districts and schools, researchers at the University of Utah, and Utah’s 13 local health departments, has shown these types of testing programs are not only feasible for K-12 schools to implement statewide, but also important ways to prevent outbreaks in the school setting and greater community. 

“More than 4,000 volunteers have signed up to help with the COVID vaccine response statewide over the past few weeks, and it was a thrill to see folks in action,” Gov. Cox said. “Volunteers, our local health departments and all of our vaccine partners are helping us get as many shots in arms as quickly as we can. We’re so grateful for their help in beating this virus.”

The Davis County Health Department is one of many vaccine providers located throughout the state. The Legacy Events Center, where the governor and lieutenant governor served, is a drive-thru clinic with 30 stations which can serve up to 350 cars per hour. The clinic operates Monday-Saturday from  10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and has administered over 85,000 doses of vaccine to date. About 120 volunteers are used to assist in administering vaccinations each week. 

Clinic partners include the Utah National Guard, Davis School District, Roseman University (nursing and pharmacy programs) and Davis Technical College. Also, the Tanner Clinic will join the partnership very soon.

In an effort to ensure access to multicultural communities, the clinic offers instruction and support in ASL (American Sign Language), French, German, Haitian, Igbo, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, Mandarin Chinese, Norwegian, Portuguese, Shona, Spanish and Arabic.

So far, 936,681 vaccine doses have been administered in the state of Utah and we expect that number to increase rapidly as more doses are sent to the state. 

To make a vaccination appointment, visit https://coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine-distribution. The site lists all providers including local health departments, local pharmacies and health care providers.  

Riders with a confirmed vaccination appointment have a copy of their appointment confirmation accessible as proof of fare when they board. The confirmation may be printed or shown on a mobile device, including email or text confirmation. UTA will also accept the vaccination card with the appointment date as proof of fare.

Paratransit riders can schedule rides as usual by calling 801-287-7433, please mention you’re traveling to your scheduled appointment and show your confirmation.

For more information please visit: www.rideuta.com/news/2021/03/Free-Fare-to-Vacinations or contact UTA customer service at 801-RIDE-UTA (743-3882) or rideuta@rideuta.com.

As the state of Utah continues its COVID-19 vaccination program, the Utah Poison Control Center has partnered with the Utah Department of Health to help the public get advice on any side effects they may experience from a COVID-19 vaccine.

Recently, rumors on social media have circulated that poison centers say that COVID-19 vaccines are unsafe.

At the Utah Poison Control Center, our team of physicians, pharmacists, and nurses trained in toxicology all fully support the ongoing efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccinate all eligible individuals in Utah.

The American College of Medical Toxicology and American Academy of Emergency Medicine, two nationally-recognized physician groups, announced their support for COVID-19 vaccines as safe and effective.

We echo their statement and also strongly recommend vaccination with the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines.

While the vaccines do cause side effects such as pain, swelling, fatigue, and fever, these symptoms are generally mild and go away within 1-2 days.

Rarely, vaccines may cause severe allergic reactions called anaphylaxis. The number of patients experiencing anaphylaxis from COVID-19 vaccines is similar to other vaccines such as the influenza vaccine (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7008e3.htm).

The Utah Poison Control Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by healthcare professionals trained in toxicology and vaccine side effects to answer questions about adverse effects from COVID-19 vaccines.

Additionally, patients may use the CDC V-safe platform (vsafe.cdc.gov) to report side effects to the CDC. We encourage healthcare professionals to use the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS vaers.hss.gov) to report adverse events related to COVID-19 vaccines.

The Utah Poison Control Center can be reached at any time at 1-800-222-1222.