VA to begin COVID-19 vaccines for veterans 85 and over

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John J. Pershing VA Medical Center has started calling veteran patients 85 and over to offer appointments to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

The medical center will administer vaccinations beginning Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, as well as on Saturdays, Jan. 16 and Jan. 30. Clinical staff will be available to patients for consultation and assistance throughout the vaccination process.

Veterans do need to wait for VA staff to call to schedule an appointment, said Angela Smith, public affairs officer.

“We’ve received a little over 700 doses so far,” Smith said. “Because we have to give this in groups of 10 doses, we have to schedule 10 appointments at a time.

“We have to go about it very carefully to protect the supply that we have.”

The vaccine has been determined to be safe and effective and will not give the recipient COVID-19, VA staff said in a press release Tuesday. Common side effects include pain or itching at the site of the injection, fever and fatigue. These symptoms typically resolve within 48 hours, officials report.

Veterans will be expected to schedule an appointment to receive the second dose (approximately 28 days after the first) before they leave and are encouraged to come to the first appointment with a date and time in mind.

Officials say veterans aged 75-84 will be the next group contacted, as supplies permit.