Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Sign up Now for Your COVID Vaccination

Dear VA Portland Veteran:

(To stop receiving further COVID vaccination invitations, you can unsubscribe at the bottom of this email.)

We are pleased to offer you the COVID vaccination!

We are using a new online reservation system that we hope will allow many more eligible Veterans to be scheduled without delay.   We have expanded our online schedule, and now have appointment slots available on both the Portland and Vancouver campuses, February 24^th through 26th.

If appointments are all taken when you are signing up...

• Our Vancouver location has more appointments slots available, as well as easy parking.
• Keep checking your email - we will be offering both the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines and will be sending out emails frequently with new appointment slots.

This service is available now BY INVITATION ONLY to select Veterans 62 years or older who are ENROLLED for care at VA Portland Health Care System.  Do not forward this message to friends or family; if they sign up they will be turned away when they arrive.

Our schedulers are actively calling eligible Veterans by phone to make vaccination appointments.  If you have not already received a phone call and scheduled your vaccination, we invite you to try the online reservation tool to sign up for your first shot.

A few other things to be aware of:

• VA Portland will have the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on this date, which requires two doses.
• The second dose is due 21 days (+/- 4 days) after your first shot and will be scheduled when you arrive for your first vaccination appointment.  
• If you will not be available in 3 weeks, do not sign up now for your first dose.  There will be other opportunities.

• You should NOT sign up to be vaccinated if:
• You have had a major allergic reaction to other vaccines or any ingredient of this vaccine, including polyethylene glycol (PEG)0 or polysorbate, or 
• You have received another immunization in the last 14 days.

• The CDC DOES recommend vaccination for almost everyone else, including people who have had other types of allergic reactions (e.g., to food, pets, venom, latex, or oral medications).  If you are immunocompromised or have an autoimmune condition, or you are pregnant, there is not much information to guide your decision.  You should consider talking to your provider but can choose to be vaccinated.

On the day of your vaccination:

• Do not come to the vaccine clinic if you have a fever, cough, or are otherwise feeling ill.  Please cancel your appointment, and we will work with you to reschedule it.
• Please arrive 5 minutes early to your appointment, not sooner.  If you arrive earlier, please stay in your car until your appointment time.  This will help us keep the clinic from becoming overcrowded.
• You will be required to wear a mask and maintain social distancing during your vaccination visit.  If a caregiver accompanies you, they should stay in the car during your visit unless you absolutely cannot manage without them.
• You will be observed for at least 15 minutes after your vaccination to ensure you don't have a reaction to it.  The risk of a serious reaction appears to be very low - approximately 1 in 100,000.

Thank you for your service!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Click here to reserve your vaccination appointment.

Instructions:

1. Choose the location you prefer (Portland or Vancouver).
2. Ensure the date is highlighted on the calendar and select your preferred time. If you see no available appointments, this means all slots have already been taken. 
3. Enter your:
1. FULL NAME
2. Email address
3. Phone number
4. Age
5. Last 4 of SSN

Please double check for typos, paying special attention to your email address. 

1. You will receive an email confirmation. There is an option to cancel or reschedule on the confirmation email.  You will not be able to cancel or reschedule after 12pm the day before your scheduled appointment.
2. Do not reply to the confirmation email; it will not be monitored.

Additional information:

VA Portland Health Care System

CDC vaccine fact sheet

Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine info

Moderna vaccine info

What to expect after getting the vaccine

Portland campus location, map, and directions

Vancouver campus location, map, and directions

How to enroll for VA care