COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet

VA is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners to provide COVID-19 vaccines. At this time, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLAHS) has a limited supply of the Pfizer vaccine that is given in two doses, 17 to 21 days apart. VAGLAHS is following the prioritization recommendations issued by the CDC and is now offering vaccines to the following groups:

• Health Care Personnel;
• Long-term care facility residents;
• Persons aged 65 years and older;
• Veterans with high-risk conditions such as hemodialysis and spinal cord injury, Solid Organ Transplant patients or patients who are listed for transplant, and Chemotherapy patients; and
• Frontline essential workers
  Frontline Essential Workers include the following:
  • First Responders (Firefighters, Police);
  • Education (Teachers, Support Staff, Daycare);
  • Food & Agriculture;
  • Manufacturing;
  • Corrections workers;
  • U.S. Postal service workers;
  • Public transit workers; and
  • Grocery store workers

Veterans in the priority groups listed above and registered for healthcare at VAGLAHS may have already been contacted to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine. Currently, Healthcare Personnel and Veterans are receiving vaccinations by appointment at VAGLAHS. Monday through Saturday from 0800 to 1600, Veterans and Healthcare Personnel are receiving vaccinations at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. Walk-ins are not guaranteed. Monday through Friday, Healthcare Personnel are being vaccinated at the Los Angeles Ambulatory Care Center and Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center.

VA’s goal is to vaccinate every Veteran who wants the COVID-19 vaccine. Bakersfield and Santa Maria VA Clinics will begin offering vaccinations to Veterans beginning January 21 and January 26 respectively. A drive-up vaccination clinic for Veterans at West Los Angeles VA Medical Center and Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center is currently in the planning stages. As VAGLAHS receives adequate supply to expand current operations, vaccinations will be offered at other VAGLAHS locations and include Veterans aged 64 years and under with a broad variety of high-risk medical conditions, Primary and Secondary Caregivers of prioritized Veterans enrolled in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) and other essential workers.

 

To receive the vaccine, Veterans must be eligible

and registered for VA Healthcare.

 

Veterans who wish to enroll in VA Healthcare, can visit: www.va.gov/health-care/apply/application/introduction. Once enrolled, Veterans can call (310) 268-4900 to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine.

Veterans currently engaged in healthcare services at VAGLAHS can also send their medical team a secure message at www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/web/myhealthevet/home to request the vaccination.

Due to the high interest and demand for the COVID-19 vaccine, long wait times are expected when scheduling and receiving the vaccines. VAGLAHS is working diligently to ensure Veterans are scheduled and vaccinated as quickly as possible.

Veterans can visit the following website to express their interest in getting the vaccine and to receive up to date information along the way: www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informed.

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