[GrumpyOldMan]

For those not receiving the VA's updates, here is a piece from one I received today. If you are a vet and you meet the criteria, you should contact Gainesville VA (Malcolm Randell) and schedule an appointment.

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NF/SGVHS is now offering a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to Veterans, spouses, and caregivers that have previously received either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines AND meet CDC’s definition of moderate to severe immune-compromised.

This includes:

• Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
• Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge, Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., >20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, TNF blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory

Our VA care teams are working directly with immunocompromised Veterans to schedule their appointment to receive a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Spouses and caregivers of Veterans who meet CDC’s definition of moderate to severe immune-compromised can attend one of our walk-in no appointment needed vaccination clinics or call 352-548-6000 ext. 103755 to schedule an appointment (an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine should be administered at least 28 days after completion of the initial 2-dose COVID-19 vaccine series).

There is no additional dose recommended for those who have received the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at this time. Other fully vaccinated individuals do not need a third dose right now. The need for and timing of the COVID-19 vaccine additional doses or booster doses for the rest of the population have not been established. Veterans that do not meet the current criteria for the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be notified when further instructions for a third dose or boosters are recommended and offered.

Veterans that are unclear if they have one of the conditions above or are considered immunocompromised are encouraged to talk to their VA care team to discuss their options.