REGINA - Today, Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition Nicole Sarauer was joined by Regina resident Genna Rodriguez, calling on the Sask. Party government to fix outstanding issues with proof of vaccination accessibility and accuracy, weeks after the vaccine passport policy was put in place.
Many people across the province are still without access to their vaccination records. The only way to get your online health records is if the name on a health card matches with the name on a driver’s licence. Unfortunately for many people, this isn’t the case.
“The eHealth website recommends you ‘simply begin using your preferred last name’ instead of applying for a name change. This creates a problem with access to vaccination records that disproportionately affect women, who are more likely to have a change in name,” said Sarauer. “Those who followed the recommendation to ‘do nothing’ after a name change now may not have access to their own health records.”
Sarauer noted that while people vaccinated in Saskatchewan with out-of-province health cards cannot access MySaskHealthRecords, they can email request a digital copy at no charge. This workaround is not presently available for Saskatchewan health card holders without access to MySaskHealthRecords - they must request a paper record, pay a $20 fee, and pick it up in-person.
Even so, the issue remains for people like Genna Rodriguez, whose proof of vaccination will have a different name than her driver’s licence or passport. “All of my ID read ‘Genna Rodriguez, except for ‘Genna Munoz’ on my wallet card,” she said. “Will I be able to visit family in Mexico this winter if my passport has a different last name than the digital vaccine records I still haven’t seen?”
“I’ve done all the right things. I followed the eHealth name procedures, I’ve got both my vaccines, and I’ve bent over backwards to get this fixed. I still don’t have access to an accurate vaccine record.”
Sarauer and the NDP Caucus called on the Sask. Party government to move swiftly to ensure every vaccinated Saskatchewan resident is provided a free, accessible, and accurate proof of vaccination.
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