The Veterans Administration & COVID-19 Vaccines

COVID-19 Vaccines are in the news a lot lately with the news about the Novavax and Johnson & Johnson stage 3 results. As of this writing, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized two COVID-19 vaccines for use. For veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is a key contributor to the vaccination strategy. The VA has implemented a phased plan approach for the vaccine delivery and is currently proving vaccines to the following groups:

1. VA health care personnel

2. Veterans living at VA Long-Term Care Facilities

3. Veterans who are currently receiving care at the VA facility (and that are high risk / COVID-19 susceptible, per CDC / VA risk criteria)

4. Family caregivers, who are enrolled in the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC), are eligible when the Veteran they care for becomes eligible.

The VA asks that those who do not fall into one of the categories above, please wait until they contact you – there is no need to call to reserve a vaccine or physically travel to a VA facility. One of the best ways you can stay informed when the vaccine will be available to you, the veteran, is to SIGN UP HERE.

As of Thursday, January 28th the VA has administered at least one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine to 464,943 Veterans and 232,205 employees. Also, as of that date, the VA is actively managing over 11,000 COVID-19 cases. The VA plans to ultimately vaccinate approximately 7 million veterans and 400,000 VA employees.

In addition, the VA is currently participating in multiple research studies for new vaccines and treatments. Both veterans and non-veterans are eligible to participate in this valuable work and are encouraged to learn more here.

We at BeneLynk are grateful for the care given to our nation’s veterans and for the brave work conducted by the VA’s frontline healthcare workers who have been fighting the Coronavirus from the very beginning.

For additional questions you may have about the VA vaccination process, please visit the VA’s COVID-19 Vaccine page and scroll to the bottom.