(Government of Saskatchewan/Supplied)

By CKOM News staff

Glitch forces temporary removal of QR codes from vaccination records

Sep 24, 2021 | 4:47 PM

Four days after being launched, QR codes temporarily are being removed from Saskatchewan residents’ COVID-19 vaccination records due to privacy issues.

The Government of Saskatchewan said Friday afternoon the move was made due “to an issue downloading patient QR codes.”

The records of as many as 19 people could display when another person’s QR code is scanned. Information from one person already has been identified.

That person has been contacted, as has the Office of the Information and Privacy Officer of Saskatchewan.

QR codes started to appear Monday on people’s vaccination records through MySaskHealthRecord.

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“In an abundance of caution, QR codes will not be issued on vaccination certificates until early next week,” the ministry said in a media release. “Citizens are currently unable to view their proof of vaccination certificate in MySaskHealthRecord, although the vaccines administered still show.

“Tomorrow, citizens will be able to download or print their proof of vaccination record, which will still include their name and details about the vaccines administered. However, the QR code will be absent from the record.”

Anyone who printed, downloaded or took a picture of their QR code from Sunday through Friday is urged to destroy or delete any records with their code since it’ll be made invalid.

People also are asked to contact eHealth Saskatchewan’s privacy officer if they have noticed another person’s name when their QR code is scanned. Email at privacyandaccess@eHealthsask.ca.

“We are working closely with our vendor to investigate and resolve any issues and prevent other problems,” Davin Church, eHealth Saskatchewan’s vice-president of programs and technology, said in the release. “We understand the high demand in Saskatchewan for records to meet proof of vaccination requirements.”

In the absence of QR codes, wallet cards or an earlier version of a person’s MySaskHealthRecord COVID-19 vaccine certificate as well as a COVID-19 vaccine printout from the Saskatchewan Health Authority can be used as proof of vaccination.