VA Plans to Vaccinate Health Workers, Veterans in Long-Term Care First

VA Plans to Vaccinate Health Workers, Veterans in Long-Term Care First

37 VA locations tapped to administer COVID-19 vaccines, monitor side effects

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced Thursday that it will provide COVID-19 vaccinations first to its frontline health care workers and veterans residing in long-term care facilities. The VA selected 37 medical centers across 29 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico to distribute vaccines, once approved, because of the centers’ ability to vaccinate large numbers of people and store the vaccines at the extremely cold temperatures required. These locations will closely monitor patients and staff for side effects, log the information in a vaccine tracking system and report that data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health care workers were selected to be among the first to get vaccinated because of their high risk of contracting and spreading the virus compared to other VA staff members and patients.

As vaccine supplies increase, additional veterans will receive vaccinations based on age, existing health problems and other factors that increase the risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19. The vaccines will be offered at no cost to all service members enrolled in VA health care, it said. “VA is well prepared and positioned to begin COVID-19 vaccinations,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie in a press statement. “Our ultimate goal is to offer it to all veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.”

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References:

Kassraie Aaron, AARP 2020, accessed 15 December 2020, < https://www.aarp.org/home-family/voices/veterans/info-2020/va-covid-vaccine-plan.html >