WASHINGTON — The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) received 71,400 doses of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, March 3, authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under an Emergency Use Authorization.
In clinical trials, the Janssen vaccine showed an efficacy of 66% against moderate to severe/critical COVID-19 disease occurring at least 28 days after vaccination — and demonstrated greater than 85% efficacy in preventing severe/criticalCOVID-19 disease occurring at least 28 days after vaccination.
“VA now has a third highly effective vaccine to support the department’s critical efforts in vaccinating Veterans,” said Acting VA Under Secretary for Health Richard Stone M.D. “This one-dose vaccine will help us vaccinate more people faster and will help us effectively reach more Veterans, including those in rural areas.”
As of March 3, VA provided Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine first doses to more than 1,648,000 Veterans, employees and federal partners — and both doses to more than 925, 000 of these individuals.
Veterans who are enrolled and receiving health care in VA are eligible to get the vaccine when their facility has vaccine supply and reaches their risk category. Veterans are required to enroll with VA in order to receive health care. However, to receive care in VA, enrollees must meet certain eligibility requirements under current law, which may include income limits.
Veterans can get the latest information and sign up to receive updates on VA’s COVID-19 vaccine 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.
Veterans can also use our chatbot to get information about VA benefits and services. The chatbot won’t connect you with a person, but it can show you where to go on VA.gov to find answers to some common questions.
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