Page 17 - 35392-D-01_NERA1_Mariner_v63no2
P. 17
Health care workers will be among the first to receive “VA is well prepared and positioned to begin COVID-19
vaccinations because they are at high risk for contracting vaccinations,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “Our ulti-
and spreading COVID-19 to other staff members and mate goal is to offer it to all Veterans and employees who
patients, and their health is critical to ensuring the con- want to be vaccinated.”
tinued care of Veterans.
The 37 VA sites chosen for initial distribution of the vaccine
Veterans in VA’s long-term care facilities will be the will closely monitor patients and staff for side effects and
first patient group to be vaccinated. As vaccine supplies log this information in its vaccine monitoring and tracking
increase, additional Veterans will receive vaccinations system. This is the same system VA uses to monitor reac-
based on factors such as age, existing health problems and tions to all vaccines, including those for the flu and shingles.
other considerations that increase the risk of severe illness
or death from COVID-19. VA will report directly to the CDC data on all vaccine
doses administered by VA. The department will also pro-
VA anticipates a limited vaccine supply immediately after vide general, public updates on the number of people who
FDA’s approval, but expects more supplies to be available receive the vaccination at these sites, similar to how VA
in short order. posts COVID-19 testing figures.
The 37 VA sites are spread throughout the country and include:
• Birmingham (AL) VA Health Care System • Southern Nevada (North Las Vegas) VA Health
• Phoenix (AZ) VA Health Care System Care System
• Greater Los Angeles (CA) VA Health Care System • Raymond G. Murphy (NM) VA Health Care System
• Palo Alto (CA) VA Health Care System • New York Harbor (Brooklyn) VA Health
• Eastern Colorado (CO) VA Health Care System Care System
• Connecticut (West Haven Campus) VA Health • Western New York (Buffalo) VA Health Care System
Care System • Durham (NC) VA Health Care System
• Washington DC VA Health Care System • Cleveland (OH) VA Health Care System
• Orlando (FL) VA Health Care System • Oklahoma City (OK) VA Health Care System
• Augusta (GA) VA Health Care System • Portland (OR) VA Health Care System
• Edward J. Hines Jr. VA Hospital (IL) • Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center
• Lexington (KY) VA Health Care System (Philadelphia PA)
• Southeast Louisiana (New Orleans) VA Health • Pittsburgh (PA) VA Health Care System
Care System • Caribbean (Puerto Rico) VA Health Care System
• Maryland (Baltimore) VA Health Care System • Memphis (TN) VA Health Care System
• Bedford (MA) VA Health Care System • Dallas (TX) VA Medical Center
• Ann Arbor (MI) VA Health Care System • Michael E. DeBakey VA Health Care System
• Minneapolis (MN) VA Health Care System (Houston TX)
• Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital • Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital (San Antonio TX)
(Columbia MO) • Richmond (VA) VA Health Care System
• St. Louis (MO) VA Health Care System • Puget Sound (WA) VA Health Care System
• Omaha (NE) VA Health Care System • Milwaukee (WI) VA Health Care System
Veterans seeking additional information should visit the VA COVID-19 vaccine webpage (https://
www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/), contact their care team or visit their facility website.
The Naval Enlisted Reserve Association 17