VA health group vaccinates veterans
OITDUCuRS » VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System staff members were able to swiftly pivot to the Moderna vaccine for a COVID-19 vaccine clinic Tuesday at the Senior Center on Wallace Avenue for veterans, veterans’ spouses and veteran caregivers.
Johnson & Johnson vaccines were originally scheduled to be administered at the clinic.
However, the Massachsuetts Department of Public Health directed providers to pause administration of Johnson & Johnson vaccines effective Tuesday while the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention review six U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot reported in women who received the vaccine.
“We are following current CDC guidelines and recommendations,” said Kelly Loven, VA Nurse Practitioner and clinic coordinator, of the vaccine brand switch.
“We had Moderna vaccines at our main campus in Leeds and were able to transport it quickly to Fitchburg,” Loven stressed.
Originally by appointment only, the clinic was opened up to walks-ins as well as they had just under 100 people scheduled and 200 shots available.
The clinic opened at 9 a.m. and as of 10:30 a.m. they had vaccinated 15 to 20 walk-ins and estimated they would vaccinate 50 people total per hour.
All 200 doses were administered.
Air National Guard veteran and city resident Jeff Foster received the vaccine from registered nurse Wanda Scott of the Worcester VA.
When asked why he wanted to get vaccinated Foster said, “because I want to be safe.”
“I want to be able to fight against the virus, and I’m confident it is a good vaccine,” Foster said.
Veterans Commissioner Michele Marino said she requested that VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System to bring a vaccine clinic for veterans to Fitchburg and they complied.
“A lot of our veterans and spouses are elderly and may have a difficult time traveling distances,” Marino said.
“I think that it is great that we can remove this barrier and be able to provide the vaccines locally,” Marino said.
Marino said one of the biggest challenges when it comes to the veteran vaccine clinics is getting the word out.
“It’s easier with the younger people who are on social media, but many of our elders are not on social media,” she said. Marino said the reaction from veterans who were able to get vaccinated was “very positive,” especially from those that have been unable to able to get a vaccine appointment through other local avenues.
“They all seemed very happy,” she said.
VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System is working with area veteran services officers to offer the COVID19 vaccine to VA-enrolled veterans, and now spouses and caregivers as well. Loven said they are glad to be able to provide the clinics and hope to do more in the area in the future.
“VA Central Western Massachusetts is organizing pop up clinics in communities throughout the region to improve vaccine accessibility to veterans and their families,” Loven said.
The vaccine recipients will return to the Senior Center on May 11 for their second dose. For more information and updates follow VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System on Facebook.