VISN 04 - VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System - News & Announcements Update

VA Pittsburgh providing COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans, their spouses and caregivers

On March 24, President Joe Biden signed the SAVE LIVES Act into law, expanding the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA’s) legal authority to provide COVID-19 vaccines to all veterans, regardless of their VA health care enrollment status, as well as veteran spouses, caregivers and some beneficiaries. 

The SAVE LIVES Act removed some of the legal limits on the medical care VA can provide to veterans, based on health care eligibility and priority groups. 

The expanded authority depends on readily available COVID-19 vaccine supply and requires VA to continue to prioritize vaccinations and health care delivery for our nation’s veterans enrolled in VA health care. 

VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS) is now providing COVID-19 vaccinations to all veterans (including those not currently eligible or enrolled in VA care). VAPHS is also providing COVID-19 vaccinations to spouses and caregivers of all veterans. Spouses are those who are in a marriage, same-sex or common-law marriage with a veteran, or are a widow or widower of a veteran. Caregivers are a family member or friend who provides care to a veteran or helps a veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing or tasks like shopping or transportation.

Vaccines for spouses, caregivers and veterans who are not enrolled in VA are provided to walk-ins at VAPHS’s University Drive campus only from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except federal holidays. It may take approximately 20 minutes upon arrival to register for the vaccine. No formal documentation is required.

Spouses, caregivers and veterans who are not enrolled in VA can also call their local VAPHS outpatient clinic to learn how to schedule an appointment for the vaccine.

VAPHS may request recipients provide private insurance information, but private insurance is not required to receive the vaccine.

VAPHS continues to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to veterans of any age who are eligible for VA health care either by appointment at its two medical campuses and five outpatient clinics or to walk-ins at its University Drive campus only from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except federal holidays. These veterans should send a secure message via My HealtheVet to their primary care provider if they want to schedule an appointment at the University Drive campus, H.J. Heinz III campus, or an outpatient clinic.

For the most recent information on COVID-19 vaccines at VA and to potentially shorten the registration process when you arrive for your walk-in appointment, visit VA’s vaccine information page to sign up in advance.

For all the latest updates, you can also visit VAPHS’s Facebook page (@VAPHS) and Twitter feed (@VAPittsburgh).

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To find out if you are eligible to enroll in VA health care:

• Call VA toll-free at 877-222-8387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Apply at www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply
• Download the mailable VA Form 10-10EZ. Send the completed 10-10EZ with a copy of your DD214 to VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Attn: Patient Registration, University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15240.