With the Covid-19 vaccine now available to all adults in the U.S., Americans are cautiously stepping back into normalcy. After a year of staying home and masking up, Dr. J. Tashof Bernton has a solution for restaurants and customers alike looking to add a little extra comfort to their return to eating out.
“All of us have been dealing with the pandemic and thinking, how do we get our lives back to normal?” said Bernton. “Now finally, with the vaccines coming out, we’re looking at the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Bernton, a physician based out of Denver, Colorado, was among the first eligible to receive the vaccine, proudly sitting for his second Moderna shot in February. Vaccination was an important milestone for Bernton, who could finally let out a sigh of relief knowing that he was protected from the coronavirus– and that he was doing his part to keep others safe too. Inspired by an idea from his son, he dreamt up a way to let everyone around him know that he was fully vaccinated. “We said, well, what if you had a voluntary system where people could purchase a wearable band that’s a symbol of vaccination, and also gives you easy access to your own documentation?” explained Bernton. “And that’s where Immunaband came in.”
Bernton’s Immunaband are simple wristbands equipped with a special QR code linked to your personal vaccination records. Each band is embossed with “Covid Vaccinated” in large, clear lettering, and is adjustable in length to fit any size wrist. The Immunaband website offers two options for the bands, allowing the wearer to choose to add their name and type of Covid-19 vaccine to the band or else to only display the QR code.
Either way, the Immunaband promises wearers constant access to their documentation and a subtle way to let others know that they’ve received their dose. “Right now, the only credential we’ve got is the vaccine cards,” Bernton continued. “With the Immunaband, you’re not going to lose your records, it’s not going to get stolen or mutilated, and you have constant access.”
Beyond being a convenient way to simplify your medical records, Bernton thinks that the Immunaband system could make a world of difference in making people feel more comfortable readjusting to life after quarantine. “I know that the folks in the restaurant industry have been through hell in the last year,” said Bernton. “And yet, they’re still looking at how to create a safe environment, how to get customers back, how to get them to feel comfortable coming back, and the Immunaband can play a really significant role in that.”
Bernton sees Immunaband as an opportunity for restaurant staff to assure customers that they are in a safe environment that takes Covid-19 seriously.
Additionally, introducing a uniform Immunaband system into restaurants provides a new incentive for staff to sign up for their dose. Despite strong vaccine rollout in the US, Bernton, like many healthcare professionals, is not convinced that we’ve seen the last of Covid-19.
With as many as a quarter of Americans considering declining the vaccine, the road toward herd immunity might just be a little longer than some might hope. As restrictions continue to be lifted, the Immunaband will continue to serve as a mark of comfort and safety, especially for businesses offering indoor dining. “This is a small thing that I think can have a big impact,” concluded Bernton.
In a post-Covid world, comfort is key. Bernton and his team hope that with the help of the Immunaband, people can feel safe gathering together once more to celebrate the much-welcome end of a year no one will ever forget. The Immunaband is on sale now for $19.99 on its official website.
