COVID Vaccine Updates

Veterans Health Administration sent this bulletin at 12/31/2020 12:12 PM EST

The COVID Vaccine Has Arrived!

After many months of waiting, VA Central Ohio Healthcare System (VACOHCS) received our initial shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine on Tuesday, December 22nd. The first vaccines were given to front-line healthcare staff and screeners, as recommended by VA and CDC guidance.

What Next?

Chief of Staff, Dr. Marc Cooperman, receives the COVID vaccine

We know that many Veterans are eager to receive the COVID vaccine as quickly as possible and we ask everyone to please remain patient. Columbus VA is following CDC guidelines in prioritizing older and high-risk Veterans for the vaccine, first. High-risk Veterans are those who may suffer more severe symptoms from COVID-19 due to health conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Diabetes or Congestive Health Failure. VACOHCS staff are fully committed to protecting our most vulnerable Veterans with the first vaccines available. Care teams will be reaching out to Veterans in the coming weeks and months, in order of priority. You DO NOT need to call your provider or the VA to be put on a vaccine list - we will reach out to you when a vaccine is available for you.

What To Do While Waiting:

Patient Advocate, Carlo Dixon, receives the COVID-19 vaccine

At this time we do not know how many months it may take to vaccinate all interested Veterans. Our clinical leaders have spent many weeks creating a plan to vaccinate as many Veterans each day, as safely as possible. We encourage you to continue receiving care virtually whenever possible and follow information posted and updated on our Internet (www.columbus.va.gov) and Facebook (@ColumbusVA).

Frequently Asked Questions:

Question: What happens if I receive the vaccine while I have COVID, but am asymptomatic?
Answer: Nothing significant is expected to happen, both the vaccine and the virus would cause an immune response

Question: If I come down with a fever or chills after receiving the vaccine, am I contagious?
Answer: No, the vaccine does not contain the live virus. Your symptoms are an immune response and cannot be passed on to anyone else

Question: Will receiving the vaccine decrease the chances of transmitting COVID to others?
Answer: Yes, it will decrease the chance, but not eliminate it completely

You can view more COVID-19 Vaccine Information

Keep updated & let us know how we're doing.


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