Veteran Bruce Gardner was taken by surprise one day – in a good way: VA texted him asking if he’d like to be scheduled for a COVID vaccine at his local clinic in Colorado Springs.

Within minutes of his reply, a second text arrived, inquiring about availability the following week. A few minutes later, a third text arrived: “I was now scheduled for the vaccine at one of my chosen times,” he said.

He calls the whole experience “helpful, easy, convenient and timely,” and concludes: “Amazing!”

Vaccinations through VEText

Gardner obtained his vaccination appointment through VEText, an interactive digital solution from VA that automatically reminds Veterans of upcoming appointments via text messaging. He’s hardly alone: more than 150,000 COVID-19 vaccination appointments have been scheduled through VEText.

How does VEText work? If you’re a Veteran enrolled in VA and you have a cell phone number listed in your health record, you literally don’t have to think about enrolling because it happens automatically. (You can easily opt out by replying “STOP” to any message.)

Once you’re in, you’ll receive regular text messages reminding you about appointments. You can use the system to confirm or cancel appointments. You can even get notified of appointment slots that open up earlier than your scheduled appointment via VEText’s Open Slot Management feature.

Designed for scheduling appointments

It’s a system that’s literally designed for speedy and efficient scheduling of COVID-19 vaccination appointments – as shown by these comments from Veterans on VA social media:

  • “Because of their excellent planning, we were in and out in about an hour for the second dose.”
  • “Thanks to VA for their handling of COVID vaccine program… they kept me ‘in the loop’ about plans, availability, progress and when I’d be scheduled… and ultimately getting me scheduled for this morning.”
  • “My appointment was @ 1130. Got there @ 1115, checked in via text & was on my way home @ 1150.”

So keep an eye out for that text from VA inviting you to make a vaccine appointment. As one Veteran put it, “What a great job they are doing with the COVID vaccine. Sign up, wait for a text or call, get appointment and receive shot. Thank you VA.”

To learn more about VEText, read the VEText FAQs.

Topics in this story

CoronavirusCOVID-19SchedulingvaccinationVaccineVEText

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7 Comments

  1. James Mason March 31, 2021 at 11:10

    This is awesome thank you VA!!! I’m scheduled for this week.

  2. Mamie Williams March 31, 2021 at 09:00

    I live in Georgia and would like to schedule a Covid vaccine but every time I go to schedule I’m getting the no appointment available. Please help.

  3. Martha Reynolds March 30, 2021 at 20:12

    Also, how will I know which vaccine I will be given?

  4. Martha Reynolds March 30, 2021 at 20:09

    I am 64 yrs old. I have already signed up, and registered for the Covid-19 vaccine. I would like to know when I will be notified about a vaccine appointment, or when will it be time for my age range to be vaccinated.

  5. Rollyn Craig Trueblood March 30, 2021 at 13:42

    What happens to us who earn more than the VA Income Cap? Are we left out on the street, or will the VA provide our shots?

  6. Robert Everwine March 30, 2021 at 12:43

    My name is CWO4 Robert Everwine
    I received the Johnson & Johnson single dose Covid 19 vaccine at the VA clinic in Vineland, Nj. Will there be any more single dose available there for my wife?

  7. John Allen Sutton, Jr. March 30, 2021 at 12:27

    How do l get me and my spouse a Covid shot.

Comments are closed.

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