COVID-19 Vaccine Update

As COVID-19 cases continue to surge in the United States, we want to share an update about VA Puget Sound Health Care System's COVID-19 vaccine rollout.  

The initial supply of COVID-19 shots is very limited. Based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance, we started giving COVID-19 shots to health care workers and Veterans in our nursing homes and spinal cord injury units. VA will next give shots to Veterans at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

We assure you that we will contact Veterans to make appointments to get the shots based on availability. We cannot give COVID-19 shots on a walk-in basis at this time.

Our goal will be to provide every Veteran with a vaccine who wants one.

Questions?

• For questions about COVID-19 or COVID-19 shots, call 1-800-myVA411 or (1-800-698-2411), press 8 for COVID information; or visit the VA Coronavirus Vaccine FAQs webpage (https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/).
• For all other health care concerns, please call us at 1-800-329-8387 or reach out to your primary care team.

Patient and staff safety remain paramount, so our rigorous safety measures remain in place:

• 100% screening for signs of COVID-19 infection.
• 100% use of approved face masks for everyone entering and inside any of our care sites (if you don’t have one, we will provide you with one; no medical waivers).
• 100% physical distancing.
• No walk-in patients outside of emergent care needs.
• No routine visitors.
• Inpatient Visits:
• Exceptions must be coordinated with your care team in advance. 
• Visits 30 minutes or less unless care team believes longer visit is in  best interest of the patient.
• Outpatient Visits:
• Patients can bring one person as an escort for navigation assistance or to provide care support. Visitor must stay with the patient throughout visit unless specified otherwise by the health care team.
• Approved Visitors:
• Must be approved by care team in advance of visit.
• Must be at least 18-years-old.
• Must adhere to all safety measures.
• Must use hand gel when entering and exiting a care area.
• Are not allowed in the room during aerosol-generating procedures.
• No visitors under 18 allowed, with one exception: American Lake’s Child Care Center.
• Do not leave unaccompanied minors outside during your visit.
• 100% environmental cleaning recommendations as outlined by the CDC.

We continue to maximize personalized virtual care options. We know these services have been a valuable link to our Veterans during this challenging time, providing increased access to care regardless of where you live. Here are some examples of ways you can access care from home:

• Telephone or Video Appointments: Receive care at home—either over the phone or via video using VA Video Connect on your computers, smartphones or tablets. To set up virtual appointments, send your health care team a secure message on My HealtheVet by visiting myhealth.va.gov. While Veterans may also call us at 1-800-329-8387, VA is requesting that Veterans only call with urgent needs at this time.
• Prescription Refills: Veterans can request prescription refills, order and ship medications home using My HealtheVet or Rx Refill mobile app. Download the app at mobile.va.gov/app/rx-refill.
• Secure Messaging: With a free My HealtheVet Premium account, Veterans can send secure messages to their health care team online to ask non-urgent health questions, request referrals and send updates about medical conditions. Other tools and services available to Veterans with the Premium account include, ability to access health records, view military service information and ability to join video visits using the VA Appointments tools. There are two ways to register, online or in-person at a VA facility. With the threat of COVID-19, the in-person option has been suspended.

To upgrade online using a VA HealtheVet sign-in partner (DS Logon and ID.me), follow these steps: From the My HealtheVet sign in page, sign in to your Advanced My HealtheVet account using a sign-in partner. Select the Upgrade Now button. Check the certification box to verify account owner. Select Continue. Check the Accept My HealtheVet Terms & Conditions box. Select Continue to complete the upgrade.

The pandemic and the vaccine rollout represent unprecedented times for us all. We appreciate your willingness to support the distribution plan and our continued safety measures to help us maintain the safe delivery of care to Veterans, and to the staff caring for you.

Thank you and be safe!