***All VETERANS, THEIR SPOUSES, AND CAREGIVERS CAN NOW RECEIVE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS FROM THE VHA UNDER THE STRENGTHENING and AMPLIFYING VACCINATION EFFORTS to LOCALLY IMMUNIZE all VETERANS and EVERY SPOUSE (SAVE LIVES) Act signed into law on March 24***

* Sign up to get a COVID-19 vaccine at a VHA facility – If you’re a veteran, spouse, caregiver, or CHAMPVA recipient, Sign up online, and you will be contacted you when a vaccine is available for you.  Please don’t come to a VHA health facility to request a COVID-19 vaccine without already having an appointment.


Covered individuals can receive a vaccine from VA due to the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. Under the bill, covered individuals are:
– Veterans who are not eligible to enroll in the VA health care system;
– Specified Veterans who are eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care abroad;
– Family caregivers approved as providers of personal care services for Veterans under the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers;
– Caregivers of Veterans participating in the VA’s Program of General Caregiver Support Services;
– Caregivers of Veterans participating in the VA’s Medical Foster Home Program, Bowel and Bladder Program, Home Based Primary Care Program, or Veteran Directed Care Program;
– Civilian Health and Medical Programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMP VA) recipients; and
– Veteran spouses.

*VA will prioritize the vaccination of: 1) veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, 2) veterans who fail to enroll, but receive hospital care and medical services for specified disabilities in their first twelve (12) months of separation from service, and 3) caregivers accompanying such prioritized veterans. Additionally, vaccines furnished abroad are authorized to be furnished in a geographic location other than a state regardless of whether vaccines are needed for the treatment of veterans with a service-connected disability. This includes those participating in a VA rehabilitation program.

– To learn how to get COVID-19 vaccine from VA facilities, visit https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/84404/veterans-designated-caregivers-can-get-covid-19-vaccine-va
– Find answers to general VA COVID-19 vaccine questions at https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine
– To receive ongoing updates about VA’s COVID-19 vaccine efforts and to indicate your interest in getting the vaccine once you’re eligible, visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informed.
– View the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet at https://www.fda.gov/media/144413/download.
– Read the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet at https://www.fda.gov/media/144638/download.
-Read the Janssen / Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 fact sheet at https://www.fda.gov/media/146305/download.

*Two (2) of the three (3) vaccines must be administered in two (2) separate inoculations of either vaccine, with the second Pfizer / BioNTech vaccination dose to be given twenty-one (21) days after the first, and the second Moderna vaccination dose to be being given twenty-eight  (28) days after the first. The Jansen / Johnson & Johnson vaccine only requires one (1) dose. You WILL be told which vaccine you are receiving. If you are contacted and set an appointment to receive these inoculations, PLEASE DO NOT MISS OR BE LATE TO EITHER OF THESE APPOINTMENTS. The VA is planing to coordinate travel resources for individuals that may require it. If applicable, after receiving your first inoculation, you will be given information identifying the exact vaccine, date given, and other info critical to receiving the second inoculation. Do NOT lose this information (perhaps even take a cell phone photo of it as a back-up plan).

*Additionally, feel free to contact the TVC Health Care Advocacy Department (HCAD) at  HealthCare@tvc.texas.gov  with any VA health care-related concerns.
Please provide the following info in your e-mail:

Your name
Your contact phone number (or e-mail address), and
Your county of residence

You will be contacted as soon as possible by your nearest HCAD Advocate.


VA Texas Health Care System Locations

VA North Texas Health Care System – The COVID-19 vaccine is available at the DALLAS VAMC, the SAM RAYBURN Memorial Vet Center, and the FT. WORTH OPC. They expect the Johnson & Johnson / Janssen COVID-19 vaccine to be authorized and available soon. The Moderna and Pfizer Vaccines are currently being administered at the above mentioned medical centers. The Fort Worth OPC is temporarily offering a Drive-Thru COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic by appointment only for 1st/2nd dose of Moderna. *DALLAS VAMC* – Now scheduling appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine for ALL registered patients that are enrolled with VA North Texas for medical care. If you would like to schedule an appointment for the vaccine at the Dallas locale, please call 214.857.4791, Monday-Friday 8 AM to 4 PM. One can also request a vaccine appointment online by sending a Secure Message (via MyHealtheVet) to “NTX COVID VACCINE SCHEDULING REQUEST” and identifying a desired date/time (Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM). The Dallas VAMC campus is located at 4500 South Lancaster Road, Dallas, TX  75216. *TYLER OPC* – No vaccines. Only referring out to Walgreens, Super1Foods, and now NetHealth.  *BONHAM VAMC* – All enrolled veterans are welcome and are scheduling appointments daily.  *GREENVILLE* – Vaccines available to all enrolled veterans by appointment only.  *PALESTINE* – Vaccines available to all enrolled veterans. Walk-ins welcome.  *LONGVIEW* – Vaccines available to all enrolled veterans, by appointment only.

For more info, go to:
https://www.northtexas.va.gov/index.asp
https://www.northtexas.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.asp


Central Texas Veterans Health Care System – Central Texas Veterans Health Care System – CTX is vaccinating primarily with the Moderna vaccine. They have a limited allocation of the J&J / Jansen vaccine, and at this time they are only using it at outlying clinics. *TEMPLE* – Clinic is still calling the next category of veterans to schedule appointments, but there is always a walk-in line during the week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as well.  *AUSTIN OPC* –  Veterans who want the vaccine can call and schedule an appointment. *CEDAR PARK* – Next vaccine clinic will be Saturday, March 27 for veterans with appointments and walk-ins.*

For more info, call: 800.423.2111
https://www.centraltexas.va.gov/services/covid-19-vaccines.asp


South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) – The Veterans’ vaccination clinics at Audie L. Murphy VAMC and the Frank Tejeda Outpatient Clinic (FTOPC) have moved to the Balcones Heights Mental Health Clinic in the Wonderland of the Americas Mall.  Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  All veterans scheduled for vaccination or looking to schedule an appointment should contact the Balcones Heights Mental Health Clinic (210.732.1802). All three vaccines are available, and veterans can as for a specific vaccine when making the appointment, but that vaccine is not guaranteed to be available. Veterans with the following health concerns may be eligible to receive the vaccine, once they contact their PCP and that PCP leaves a note:

  • Cancer
  • Chronic Kidney Disease
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • Down Syndrome Heart Conditions (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathies)
  • Organ Transplantation Obesity (BMI of 30kg/m2 or higher)
  • Pregnancy
  • Sickle Cell Disease
  • Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

For more info, go to: https://www.southtexas.va.gov/


VA Texas Valley Coastal Bend Health Care System (VCB) – *LAREDO, HARLINGEN, & McALLEN* – Currently giving Moderna C-19 vaccine only to veterans. McAllen VA Clinic has shortage on vaccines, but veterans can come in and request an appointment to get the vaccine. The VHA will have second vaccine for veterans out of the McAllen Clinic on 10 April.  *CORPUS CHRISTI* – C-19 Vaccine Labs will be held every Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday. These labs will take place from 4:30 p.m  to 6:30 p.m. (times subject to change depending on vaccine shipments). Veterans need to call the VCB Call Center (361.806.5600 or 361.939.6500) and request an appointment to receive the vaccine.  *CORPUS CHRISTI VA OPC (CCOPC) & CORPUS CHRISTI SPECIALTY VA OPC (CCSC)* – Has J&J / Jansen vaccine, but in limited supply. Both OPCs are calling veterans and scheduling them for vaccine appointments.  *VICTORIA VA OPC* –  Providing Moderna vaccine. Does not have the J&J / Jansen vaccine. VHA staff are calling veterans to schedule vaccine appointments.  *SEGUIN VAOPC* – COVID 19 vaccine scheduling being conducted through Balcones Heights VA OPC in San Antonio. For veterans in Guadalupe county, Seguin OPC is taking names and contact information and providing it to Guadalupe County Health Department, who will contact veterans to schedule vaccine appointments. *BEEVILLE VAOPC* – Does not carry any COVID 19 vaccine, and has no plans for future distribution of any vaccine. All vaccinations being handled by the hospital; if veterans inquire, the clinic refers them there for further information.

For more info, call: 855.864.0516
https://www.texasvalley.va.gov/


Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center – Houston, Texas – *MEDVAMC* – Doing walk-in appointments on the weekends. Hospital is completely out of J & J / Jansen vaccine due to sending their allocations of it to the homeless and rural areas.  MEDVAMC announces their vaccine clinic schedule week by week.  Veterans must be enrolled in the VA health care system to make a scheduled appointment to receive the Pfizer vaccine, along with an automatic appointment to get the second dose of the vaccine. If you have questions about getting the vaccine at the clinic this weekend, call the Texas City VA Outpatient Clinic at 409.986.2900.  The MEDVAMC has been consistent with their walk-in / drive-thru clinic that starts every week on Wed – Fri from 10am to 4pm.  Veterans can obtain the vaccine AT THE HOSPITAL ONLY (as long as they are enrolled at MEDVAMC or any of their clinics / OPCs under the MED footprint).

For more info, go to: https://www.houston.va.gov/


El Paso VA Health Care System – The El Paso VA is still giving the Moderna vaccine to veterans. The Moderna vaccine is coming in slowly, and veterans are being called by the facility to set appointments. *Veterans do NOT have the ability to call-in for vaccination appointments*. The El Paso VA has given about 12,000 vaccine shots, including the DHS that they have been tasked to vaccinate as well.

For more info, call: 915.564.6100
http://www.elpaso.va.gov/


West Texas VA Health Care System – *BIG SPRING VAMC* – Veterans need to call Scheduling to get their Moderna vaccine, however, drive through clinic is Saturday at Big Spring. 
*WEST TEXAS OPCs* – Still limited their quantities of available vaccine.

For more info, call: 432.268.2564
www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/
http://www.bigspring.va.gov/


Amarillo VA Health Care System- *AMARILLO VAMC* – Offering Moderna vaccine, veterans are still being called to establish appointments , or can show up on Saturdays as a walk-in (806.355.9703).  *ALL veterans (even if not registered at the VA) are authorized to receive vaccine*.  Must be able to verify veteran status (I D card or DD Form 214).  *LUBBOCK OPC* – Thursdays by appointment only.  *CHILDRESS OPC* – J&J / Janssen vaccine (1 dose), by appointment only, schedule at 806.355.9703.  *DALHART* – J&J / Janssen vaccine (1 dose), by appointment only, schedule at 806.355.9703.

For more info, call: 800.687.8262, or  806.355.9703 and select Option 2
https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/
http://www.amarillo.va.gov/