Flu season has begun and VA is working to provide our Veteran patients with greater immunization options. Veterans who choose to receive flu shots from non-VA providers or local pharmacies have traditionally not been able to have their immunization records forwarded to the VA. The result has been that Veterans are required to fill out additional VA forms. Or, they have to remember to provide the information to their local VA health care provider during a VA visit.

Under a new pilot for enrolled veterans in the Florida region of VA’s Veterans Integrated Service Network 8, Veteran patients who choose to get a flu shot at any of more than 800 Walgreen’s locations now have an option for Walgreens to electronically forward their immunization record to VA – no paper record, no remembering required. By sharing electronic immunization records, we are working to provide a more complete and accurate electronic health record to support an improved VA immunization rate.

Enrolled Veterans will continue to be offered a no-cost flu shot at more than 80 VA locations in the service network during any scheduled VA appointment, admission to a VA facility, or at one of the special walk-in flu stations.  For flu shots received from non-VA providers and pharmacies, there usually will be a charge, unless a Veteran is covered by private insurance or by programs such as Medicare.

For details on the program, Veterans who are in the Florida, VISN 8 region should contact a local VA medical center or clinic, or go to www.walgreens.com. or click here for more information. Find VISN 8 locations here and the VISN 8 home page here.

Douglas Trauner is the Entrepreneur in Residence for the VA Center for Innovation where he is working to improve how patient care coordination and Veteran services can more effectively be delivered through VA and non-VA health care providers, community organizations, caregivers and family members.

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5 Comments

  1. Walter Hutchins December 16, 2013 at 22:54

    I get a postcard from VA Atlanta telling me to get a flu shot or if I got one outside the VA to fill in part of the card and fax it to them or phone the info to a VA Atlanta number.

    I decided to call – the voice mail was full!

    Why not just let me input the info on MyHealthEVet. – do they think I am going to go to that much trouble to lie like our Commander in Chief.

  2. FRANCISCO GATELL December 3, 2013 at 12:07

    WHEN WILL WALGREEN START TO ACCEPT TRI-CARE PHARMATHEUTICAL PRESCRIPTONS?

  3. John December 3, 2013 at 04:46

    I find that the V.A. Is a JOKE!!! I’m in my third year of school and yet never get paid on a timely basis…always late with rent and sucking in life because of it…very disgruntled veteran and to think me and my battle buddies risked life & liberty to get empty answers to our questions about our benefits and payments…A Load of Bull!

  4. Jason Kahl December 2, 2013 at 10:44

    I use the Walgreens phone app to refill my kids Rx’s. In a matter of seconds I can scan and submit then get verification of my pick-up times.
    VA could save a ton of money on postage, why compete with a working service that works better?
    The current mail service takes 5-7 days, Walgreens is next day on most scripts.
    The mail services was created to stop the backlogs AT VA pharmacies; Walgreens can do it better and cheaper.

    • robert bishop December 10, 2013 at 20:04

      I agree should work with Walgreen drug a lot of time and postage saved and when we
      Are out of town and with bottle it can be pulled up and filled

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