Any doctor who learned of it by watching TV can. The people involved in providing the shot can't unless he signs a release allowing it.
And how can it be proven, anyway? He got a shot. What was in the needle? Doctors can recognize the vaccine in the needle???
If I get the shot in a room filled with people who have nothing to do with giving me the shot I have made the matter public knowledge and anybody who was involved in giving me the shot can now talk about it.
I released them by making it a public matter.
If you get your shot in public it is public knowledge.
If you get it at your doctors office it is protected information.
Very simple.
If you have your abortion in public same thing.
Bottom line is anybody can talk about their own medical status to anybody else.
HIPPA has nothing to do with being asked or talking about private medical information.
But today if you don't want to talk about your vaccine status you have ulterior motives and are pandering to dangerous morons.
You still don't get it.
Yes, you can talk about your medical status to anyone--but note that normally nothing compels you to tell the truth. HIPAA has absolutely no bearing on what you choose to say.
HIPAA applies to medical information obtained from being on the doctor side of the doctor-patient relationship--and this includes even non-medical employees of the doctor, as well as any other doctors the file is shared with. How public that information is otherwise is irrelevant.
Consider. Suppose you posted on here Dr. <my wife's former employer> did <x> to me. I recognize your name from the billing records I saw and confirm or deny your statement--HIPAA violation, I would be in trouble. Never mind the doctor is dead, the office is long gone and I was never actually an employee anyway.