In Washington, over 5 million individuals, or about 71 percent of Washington's total population who are five years old or older, have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  These individuals, along with those who have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, are given a small white card with a federal logo showing the vaccine type, the number of doses received, the date of each vaccine dose, and the healthcare professional or clinic site providing the vaccine dose.  Widespread vaccination remains the primary means available to protect the Washington State health care system, avoid the return to stringent public health measures, and pull the state out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under normal circumstances, COVID-19 vaccination cards are distributed by authorized health care providers to vaccine recipients at the time the recipient receives a COVID-19 vaccine.  Since August 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seized thousands of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards at international mail facilities and at express consignment carrier facilities.

On August 20, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee signed Proclamation 21-14.1 which, in part and with some exceptions, prohibits the following:

• any worker from engaging in work for a state agency if the worker has not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19;
• any state agency from permitting any worker to engage in work for the agency if the worker has not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provided proof as required;
• any worker from engaging in work for the operator of an educational setting if the worker has not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19;
• any operator of an educational setting from permitting a worker to engage in work for the operator if the worker has not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provided proof as required;
• any health care provider from failing to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 after October; and
• any operator of a health care setting from permitting a health care provider to engage in work for the operator as an employee, contractor, or volunteer in their capacity as a health care provider if the health care provider has not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provided proof thereof as required. 

Providers who do not work in a health care setting must provide proof of vaccination to the operator of the facility in which the provider works, if any, or, if requested, to a lawful authority.  A lawful authority includes, but is not limited to, law enforcement, local health jurisdiction, and the state Department of Health.

 
Though there is currently no state-wide mandate for patrons of private businesses to provide proof of vaccination status prior to entry, King County has implemented a vaccine requirement for restaurants, bars, indoor recreation, and large outdoor events, and Jefferson and Clallam Counties have implemented vaccine requirements for restaurants and bars.

An individual who with the intent to defraud, to exhibit, to display, or otherwise offer as genuine, fraudulent proof of COVID-19 vaccination status at any retail or service establishment open to the public or public space that requires proof of vaccination against COVID-19 as a condition of entry is guilty of a misdemeanor.

A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.

An individual who knowingly sells, offers or exposes for sale, or otherwise transfers, or possesses with the intent to do the same, a document, printed form, or other writing which falsely purports to be a verification issued by a governmental agency of a person having received one or more doses of a vaccine against COVID-19 is guilty of a class C felony.

A class C felony is punishable by up to five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.