Coatesville VA gets 1,400 doses of COVID vaccine
COATESVILLE » Coatesville VA Medical Center has delivered more than 1,430 doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine since receiving the initial distribution on Dec. 21.
Following CDC recommendations, Coatesville VAMC began offering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to outpatients at high risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 on Jan. 4. The vaccine was first offered to veterans residing in the Community Living Center, other congregate living settings, and health care personnel.
As the supply of vaccine increases, veterans enrolled with Coatesville VAMC will be notified by the medical center’s care teams to let them know of their options. Coatesville VAMC highly encourages veterans to take advantage of this important vaccine but it’s their choice if they want to get a vaccine or not. Their decision will not affect their VA health care or any of their VA benefits in any way.
Joseph Boyce, U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, received Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine on Friday Jan. 7.
“I came through the checkpoint. I got my temperature taken and walked over here. Smooth as silk,” said Boyce.” Spending less than 30 minutes from check-in to departure, Boyce summed up the vaccination clinic as: “A great process I think.”
VA’s ultimate goal in 2021is to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to all Veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.
Who is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19
We’ll follow CDC guidelines for determining who is at high risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19. Factors that may influence the risk of severe illness include the following:
• Age. The risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 increases with age.
• Existing health problems. People with certain health problems (like diabetes, heart disease, or obesity) have a higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19.
• Other factors that raise a person’s risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19, such as living in a nursing home or other group living facility.
To learn more about people at increased risk, go to the CDC website.If you have questions about how your personal risk for COVID-19 will determine when you can get a vaccine, send a secure message to your VA health care provider.
If you don’t receive care at VA, contact your primary health care provider. If you are a veteran and are not currently enrolled in the VA, please call our eligibility office at 610-383-0265 or visit our eligibility website at https:// www.coatesville.va.gov/patients/eligibility.asp.