Massachusetts rolls out digital Covid-19 passportish thing

But a lot of large retailers have been offering the QR service for a while. So if you got all your shots at a CVS you can still get a code that most readers apps will recognize.

The code is effectively a digitally signed version of the paper card which can't be manipulated like a photo or a physical card. It's still up to the business checking the code to also check your physical photo ID to make sure it matched the name on the QR code.

If the QR code isn't verified against a real ID, it's somewhat pointless to require it as someone could just make a copy of a valid code which isn't theirs.

It's just a QR code -- you can print it out, if you like.

I don't have a smartphone. I've saved it to my flip phone's SD card and can display it on the screen there, and on my digital camera's card so I can display it there as well. (I'll probably print it at my next convenience.)

But you're probably right about it rarely getting checked.

Most bars, restaurants, and theaters will be asking for verification of vax; all museums will be. I got notifications from the MoS, MFA and NEAq today reminding me that we need to bring the vax card (or pic on phone) or QR code for admission.

The reason why the bars, restaurants, and theaters will be asking is because, right now, they have staff out with COVID. So they're going to become a lot more paranoid because they can't afford to be complacent. Also, because various towns' inspectional services will be all over their asses if they don't check.

You can also save the image to your phone.

Unlike the card, the QR code is pre-verified against the MIIS system records and will likely be required.

It is much faster to check your ID and scan the code than it is to check the card, too. I've seen this when I went to Montreal. It took them a bit longer to check our passports and the cards than it did for the locals to have their QR scanned while they were being carded.

And, yes, they did this for a Habs game, so it can be done in large numbers.

Mine says I had Pfizer AND Moderna on the same days for my first two shots.

Got all the covid shots.

The QR code is a statement, cryptographically signed by the state, saying "Mx. Greenline T. Brooklyn received such and such shots on such and such dates". The restaurant, to verify this, then needs to check your ID.

It's not a statement about the person *presenting* the image, but about a property associated with the name/birthdate of... some person.

The same approach cannot be used to convey IDs. Yes, IDs are then further checked to ensure that the photo and age match, but the physical possession of a difficult-to-forge card is given a good deal of weight as well.

(Also, why so eager to rush into a world where you rely on a high-cash-value, complex, only-mostly-reliable piece of equipment for not just communication and commerce but *also* identifying yourself? Why does this seem like a world you want to live in?)

Now I’m all set to get into all the places that there’s no way in hell I would go out to. :D

My wife asked "what does this do for us?" I said "that and $5 gets a remote ordered drink at Starbucks."

I took photos after each shot and sent to my PCP who updated my medical records for me. That might be best way to ensure all gets into the system.

which should be pretty accessible for a business.

I believe the QR code just contains:

- Name
- Date of birth
- List of covid vaccinations (which one + date)
- A cryptographic signature attesting that the above is accurate

And I believe this FAQ is relevant to MA's system: https://smarthealth.cards/en/faq.html#Does-sharing...

(I can have another try at decoding my QR code to be sure, but there's a moderately annoying use of the DEFLATE algorithm that was tripping me up.)

was that said at all?