COVID Vaccination Card Digitization (Python)

COVID Vaccination Card Digitization (Aug 2020 – Sep 2020) — Role: Developer. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the issuance of vaccination cards worldwide as proof of vaccination for travel, work, and social activities. However, the physical format of these cards posed challenges in terms of durability and convenience. This project aimed to address these issues by converting government-issued vaccination certificates into digital, double-sided ID card formats — making them more portable and easily accessible.

Challenge: The primary challenge was to create a seamless process for transforming standard-sized PDF vaccination certificates into a more practical format without compromising the integrity and readability of the information. The project also sought to automate the cropping and formatting of these certificates to facilitate mass processing without the need for manual adjustments.

Solution: A Python-based automation tool was developed to intake original PDF vaccination certificates, auto-crop and adjust the content, and convert them into a double-sided ID card format: • PDF Processing: Utilizing Python libraries to read and manipulate PDF files, extracting necessary data while preserving the document's original integrity. • Image Manipulation: Automatically adjusting dimensions and orientation of certificate information to fit the ID card format, ensuring all pertinent data remained legible and well-presented. • Batch Processing: Enabling the tool to process multiple certificates simultaneously, significantly reducing the time required to convert a large volume of documents.

Process: 1. PDF File Input: Users upload their PDF vaccination certificates to the system. 2. Automatic Cropping: The tool auto-detects the relevant portion of each certificate and crops it to fit ID card size specifications. 3. Image Conversion: The cropped certificate is converted into an image format, adjusted, and split into two sides for a double-sided ID card layout. 4. Output Generation: Produces a digital version of the vaccination certificate in a portable, convenient ID card format — ready for printing or digital storage.

Technologies Used: • Python: Core programming language for its robust PDF and image processing library support. • Pillow (PIL Fork): Image editing including resizing, cropping, and quality enhancement. • PyPDF2: PDF handling — extraction, cropping, and content manipulation. • JavaScript, Node.js, React: Frontend and supporting automation enhancements. • AWS (EC2, Lambda, DynamoDB): Cloud hosting and scalable deployment.

Impact: • Enhanced Portability: Reduced physical bulk of carrying standard-sized certificates. • Increased Convenience: Simplified storage and presentation of vaccination certificates at frequent verification checkpoints. • Operational Efficiency: Enabled organizations and governmental bodies to process and verify vaccination statuses more swiftly through a standardized, accessible format.