VA is ready for the 2019-2020 flu season

Isn’t obvious the Administration and the VA CARE so much about the health of our Nation’s Veterans that they looked at the growth and cost in the number of shots administered and decided to cut costs on the high risk older Veterans that are the primary candidates for death by flu. I not sure what the price difference between the quad shot and the stronger high risk shot is but even if they cost the same Millions of dollars can be saved by the death of every high risk veteran that dies from the flu or complications of their other illnesses aggravated by the flu. Most have complicated expensive diseases requiring lots of care, expensive prescriptions, in patient care and pensions. Just imagine how much they can save if they ignore CDC and NIH recommendations for use of the stronger shots.
I had to go twice to my local VA shot Clinic to get my shot this year. The first time I asked for the high dose shot the nurse lied and said they didn’t have the high dose yet and I could come back to see if it came in.

A little over a week later I went to the same clinic with a different nurse assigned to give shots. When I asked for the high risk shot and described my qualifications he said the computer had a note I was to get the standard shot only but they did have the high risk dose. But the computer said I couldn’t get it. I asked him the check with my team and Primary Care doctor ‍⚕️. He came back and said by PC Dr wouldn’t approve it. While he was out I read the data sheet he was handing out after you got standard shot. It clearly stated that veterans of 65 with high risk diseases should get the high dose shot. He told me I got the normal dose in the same clinic last year and I disagreed and said I got the high risk shot. He said I could get the one he was or I could go somewhere else but I might have pay because the VA would not. He never mentioned the Walgreens partnership nor is anything posted around the shot clinic or any VA employee mentioned Walgreens as a source of a free shot. I still wouldn’t use them because the VA only allows to give the normal but not high dose shot
Not giving up I went to the patient advocates office but she was not there today and no information about when she would returns. Another VA employee saw I was angry and frustrated and said I should go to the 1-Stop Shop. I did and that was almost a disaster but one great employee was researching my VA records and found I was getting them outside the VA. I gave the flyer they were handing out and she couldn’t explain why I couldn’t get the high risk shot as she confirmed they had the high risk vaccine . She asked to wait while she looked for an answer. 40 minutes later she returned with two nurses that said they were Flu coordinators and educators ‍. However even the 1-Stop people didn’t know they existed and they are not posted anywhere around the VA. It took the 1-Stop hero ‍♀️ to find them.

They explained the clinic ordered a large amount of the quad vaccine but only 700 does of high risk and regardless of national standards and advertising the VA decided they would only issue the high dose by special doctors authorizations of the high risk dose to veterans of 85 years old. They didn’t know the reason and nothing was posted or sent to local veterans telling them this policy change.

I can only believe that is a money saving policy and that a lot of veterans between 65 and 85 are more prone to get the flu and die. I bet the employee that came up with this decision gets a whopping bonus this year for cost savings.