WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding COVID-19 vaccinations for some 12- to 17-year-olds as part of the SAVE LIVES Act.

Certain VA medical centers across the country will prepare this week to offer the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

It will be available to Veteran caregivers and those who qualify as beneficiaries under VA’s Civilian Health and Medical Program. The expansion is in line with recent recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Food and Drug Administration. Previously, VA was only vaccinating adults age 18 and older.

“Our VA teams have worked tirelessly to provide care throughout the pandemic. Now we’re taking another step in the fight against COVID-19 by expanding vaccination access,” said VA Acting Under Secretary for Health Richard Stone, M.D. “This will save lives. We look forward to helping our nation move forward in this effort.”

Veterans can contact their local VA medical facility for more information or sign up their adolescent to receive a vaccine by visiting the  COVID-19 webpage.

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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov

Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.

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