As the leaves change color and the air turns crisp, respiratory illness season is approaching. This time of year is not just about pumpkin spice and cozy sweaters. It’s time to think about protecting ourselves from getting sick. The best way to protect ourselves from respiratory illness is with vaccinations. Vaccines can help protect from flu, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), COVID-19 and pneumococcal pneumonia. These vaccines are available free of charge to Veterans receiving care at VA.
For Veterans, staying healthy is especially important. Many Veterans have underlying health conditions. These conditions can make illnesses like the flu, RSV, COVID-19 or bacterial pneumonia far more dangerous. They can lead to serious complications, especially in older adults and those with compromised immune systems.
By taking the simple step of getting vaccinated, you’ll protect yourself and those around you. Most people have either mild side effects or no side effects after getting a vaccine. Some of the most common side effects are arm pain or swelling, headache and fatigue. These effects should not last more than 1 or 2 days.
You might have questions about vaccines, such as:
- What vaccines are recommended for me this season?
- How else can I stay healthy and keep from getting sick?
- Can I receive all recommended vaccines at once, or should they be spaced out?
Your VA health care provider can help you answer these questions. You can call your local VA to learn when and where you can get vaccines. You can also send a secure message to your provider through My HealtheVet.
Flu, COVID-19, RSV and pneumococcal vaccines are also available at VA’s network of over 70,000 community pharmacies and urgent care locations nationwide. If you choose to get a vaccine outside of VA, let them know you’re a Veteran enrolled in VA health care and bring this billing information card with you. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines do not require a prescription at VA network locations. For help with in-network community shots, call 877-881-7618 or your local VA facility. Learn more about no-cost shots.
If you received your vaccines outside of VA, we encourage you to share this information with your VA health care team. You can do this by adding your vaccine information to your My HealtheVet health summary for your own records. To add your information, you’ll need a premium My HealtheVet account. Learn more about managing your COVID-19 vaccine records online.
If you don’t receive VA health care and are interested in applying, you can learn more about eligibility and benefits.
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I can’t say that it was really easy but just got the covid and flu shots at Walmart.
It took having the pharmacy call ahead for authorization.
At first I was told that they didn’t bill Tri-West and could therefore no longer give the shots to Veterans. But, with some persistence it finally happened.
I’d been flatly turned down at Rite Aid, Walgreens, and the first time at Walmart. They didn’t even want to make the effort.
Try, try again worked
I have been trying to find out when the V.A. will have the latest Covid 19 available for past month. No one can give me a date.
Vaccines are wonderful. The more I get the better I feel. Thanks VA!
I’m trying to leave comments here on your website. But they all get moderated. Apparently, you don’t want my opinion.
Oh. Iraq war vets can’t comment. Why would I have you give me medical care when you hate me.
You cannot get vaccines from anyone outside of the VAI tried all of the national chains and my local hospitals. none of them contract with VA anymore.
I thought I read that it is not recommended that veterans over 75 years old get the latest covid shot. Is that correct?
What does CRUD mean?
In database theory, its Create, Remove, Update, and Delete.
Louisiana Surgeon General Ralph Abraham blasts state’s pandemic response, doubts Covid vaccines
IVE BEEN DOING ALL OF THIS UNTIL ABOUT SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS WHEN I TRY TO LOG ON OR IN TO MY HEALTH CARE VET.COM HEY TELLS ME I HAVE THE WRONG PASS WORD. IVE HAD THAT PASS WORD FOR YEARS NEVER HAD A PROABLE SIGHING IN. HOPE SOME ONE CAN TELL ME HOW I CAN GET STARTED GETTING SIGHNED BACK IN. BENNIE L MCDONALD
When will the Flu vaccine, Covid vaccine and R S V vaccine be available at Martinez, california V A clinic and what days and time that they will be available and in what bldg?
How do we know that these vaccines do not contain nanobots and other dangerous ingredients?
The answer is NO. No to your poisons. If that bothers the VA, then clearly there is a problem with the VA. Not only will I not be vaccinated with your poisons, I will never return to any of your facilities on pain of death. But by all means, continue to deceive the uninformed and helpless veterans who go to you for poison injections. The Lord will repay you all manifold at the end.
This just adds insult to injury. I have an upcoming appointment with the Hamilton, MT VA clinic for my annual physical. They called to remind me about the appointment. They asked if I needed any vaccinations or anything else. I said I would like to get a flu shot and an RSV vaccination. She said, we won’t have flu shots until October and, I quote, ” VA doesn’t do RSV vaccinations.” So, what’s the deal. You say you have RSV and the clinic says you don’t. I’m 75 years old and I would really like to have the vaccination. Also flu shots are available at every local clinic and pharmacy and have been for a couple of weeks. Same for the latest Covid vaccination.
Are dependents eligible to get Covid and flu shots from VA Hospitals?
Covid Vax. = phoney heart attack causing ,cancer causing, covid enhancing Fauci financed fraud…get lost!
greetings… how about VA post the vaccine insert information and the assumption of liability for there are non existing studies focused upon combining the jibby jabs. Many thousands of people veterans included died suddenly with massive blood clots but you criminals keep on pushing the fking shots… to Hell with you all.
Bull squat! I haven’t had a shot since uncle sugar sent me to SEA in 1970, and I haven’t had a sick day since I got back.