COVID Vaccines, Lung Cancer Awareness and Screening
Veterans Health Administration sent this bulletin at 11/23/2021 12:39 PM EST
COVID Vaccination - 1st, 2nd and Booster Shots Available
The Miami VA Healthcare System is offering COVID-19 Vaccinations at all locations during regular business hours - appointments are encouraged, but not required.
For patients eligible for a booster: Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots. We are offering all vaccine boosters in accordance with CDC guidelines.
Veterans who any questions about booster eligibility should contact their care team.
We offer COVID-19 vaccines to Veterans receiving care at VA and all other Veterans, spouses, caregivers and CHAMPVA recipients under the authority of the SAVE LIVES Act and strongly encourage all Veterans to get their COVID-19 Vaccination if they have not done so already, Monday-Friday at all Miami VA Locations during regular business hours, except for federal holidays. Contact your care team to make an appointment.
Please bring your vaccination card to your booster appointment if possible.
Due to COVID-19, no visitors, including children or babies, are allowed, although exceptions may be made in advance for end-of-life or other concerns on a case-by-case basis
Everyone entering our facilities is screened and face masks are mandatory.
Veterans should check-in for scheduled appointments from the safety of their vehicle by sending the word "here" to 53079. This will notify your care team that you are at the facility waiting to be called into your appointment. You must use a cellphone that is on file in your electronic health record.
November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer among Veterans, and the second most common cancer in men and women. However, lung cancer screening and early detection can save lives. To better address care for our Veterans, VHA has established the Lung Precision Oncology Program (LPOP) to foster participation in lung cancer screening, genomic testing, and precision oncology trials with the goal of tailoring treatment to the needs of the individual veterans. This new program is a component of the VHA’s Precision Oncology Initiative, which aims to continue to create a system of excellence in oncology care within the VHA.
While great progress has been made, Veterans need more and better options. Precision oncology means matching the right treatment to the right patient. At the VA, we take it a step further and provide the tools, resources, and systems of excellence across the United States that fosters personalized care for Veterans, and here at VISN 8 we are proud to serve as an established lung cancer site for LPOP.
Knowing what’s going on in your lungs is easier than you think. A low-dose CT scan only takes a few minutes, and when it comes to your health, knowledge is power. Speak to your primary care doctor to find out if lung screening is right for you: www.prevention.va.gov/preventing_diseases/screening_for_lung_cancer.asp
About the Miami VA Healthcare System
The Miami VA Healthcare System serves Veterans in three South Florida counties: Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe