COVID-19 Vaccination Begins
Photograph of Chief of Staff Dr. Charles Faselis receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
On December 15, 2020, excitement filled the air as the Washington DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center received its first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Cheers rang through the hallways as the 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were delivered to Pharmacy Service.
The medical center is one of the 37 VA sites to receive the initial doses of the vaccine; it was selected for its ability to vaccinate large numbers of people as well as its ability to store the vaccine at extremely cold temperatures.
Initial doses of the vaccine are being administered in accordance with the guidance of CDC and other federal health partners. The DC VA Medical Center has begun vaccinating health care personnel who are essential in continuing to care for patients throughout the pandemic. At the same time, the team is vaccinating Veteran inpatients who are residents of the Community Living Center which is the on-site long-term care facility located on the main campus.
According to 82-year old Air Force Veteran, Mr. Brodie, who has been a CLC resident just over five years, “it’s exciting to have been one of the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.” He recounts, when my nurse spoke with me about the vaccine, I was happy to accept the offer.
Mr. Brodie further explained that he worked in communications during his military service. “Being well and present for duty was a priority and I still want to be well.”
The vaccine will be administered in two doses, 21 days apart. Known reactions to the first dose include injection site soreness, and muscle aches. Reactions to the second dose may include: chills, nausea, headaches, fever, and fatigue.
As more doses of the vaccine arrive, the medical center team will begin contacting and vaccinating additional Veterans enrolled for VA care who are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. VA’s ultimate goal is to offer the vaccine to all Veterans receiving care as well as health care personnel who want to be vaccinated.
Veterans Will Be Contacted for Vaccine Appointments
Due to the limited supply of the vaccine, not all Veterans will be able to get the vaccine during this initial rollout. To reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, Veterans should not come into a VA facility seeking a COVID-19 vaccine. Health care teams will contact Veterans directly when a vaccine is available, based on each Veteran’s risk factors.
However, Veterans can sign up to receive information updates through our Keep Me Informed tool.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 Cases Are Rising
In the meantime, cases of the virus are rising in the District of Columbia and areas of Maryland and Virginia. The medical center is taking the necessary steps to keep Veterans and staff members safe.
Face-to-face appointments have been reduced to 25% of our pre-pandemic volume. If you have a face-to-face appointment scheduled, please plan to come to the medical center alone, unless you absolutely need the assistance of a caregiver. This will reduce the number of people inside the medical center and allow us to adhere to CDC’s physical distancing guidelines. Masks are required to be worn at all times inside VA facilities and all who enter are screened for COVID-19 symptoms.
In addition, visiting hours have been suspended. Exceptions may be made for loved ones of patients on hospice or palliative care or deemed “bedside essential”. Please call the patient’s Nurse Manager for more information.
Telephone and virtual appointments continue to be readily available by contacting the DC VAMC Call Center, 202-745-8000, Option 2.
If you’re interested in receiving care through VA Video Connect, speak with your VA care team first to see if it is right for you.
For more information about VA Video Connect, visit: https://mobile.va.gov/app/va-video-connect
As a reminder, if you have COVID-19 symptoms, call 202-745-8000, option 3, before coming to the medical center.
