approx. 900 vets on the line : Veterans

Tele Town Hall was conducted 04 Mar 2021 1800-1900

Kalautie S. JangDhari

56% of Vets in the area have received at least one Covid vaccine dose; Of those that haven’t received the vaccine, 57% will receive when available 18% will not, 26% Not sure.

There will be a Key West Covid Vaccination Clinic 20 March 2021. Contact Monroe County Department of Veterans Affairs Kathy Crane at 305-295-5150.

Appointment scheduling times are 1 week for Primary Care, 3 Weeks for Specialty Care providers.

Walk In Vaccination clinics are available M-Sat at Miami and Broward and By appointment clinics in Homestead and Key West.

If you have not yet received it, will get the vaccine: Yes ~50% No ~19% Not sure ~31%

Gio Juvenal Baracco, MD

2000 new cases per day of Covid in catchment area; Over 2000 cases treated at VAMC Miami; Vaccinations are the best method to prevent Covid spread.

Questions from Vets:

Monroe Co Vet Affairs transportation is in progress of restarting trips to VAMC Miami.

Veteran Care Givers and family members are not eligible to receive vaccine from the VAMC, Unless the PCASP program (sorry type too slow to catch it)

When will J&J vaccine be available to VA?; Today VA received the first shipment for deployment.

Are blood thinners a factor in the post vaccine concern? Precaution should be taken for all injectable medicines.

Will additional boosters shots be available for Covid variants? Current vaccines are active for UK variant.

Is Covid testing available? Procedures have changed as Covid has developed, but current policy is no restrictions on veteran eligibility. (Didn’t directly answer the question on testing).

CBOC – Key West is scheduling face to face appointments where necessary and tele/video as available.

What have been the side effects from the Covid vaccinations? Reactogenic symptoms have been a small minority <1:1000

Patients with neurological (as well as other) conditions are at greater risk of contracting Covid than taking the vaccine.

There have been no verified reported cases of deaths from receiving the Covid vaccine.

Risk of contracting Covid after first dose: It takes ~6 weeks to be fully protected from contracting Covid. Until Covid is eradicated, people are advised to social distance, mask, etc to protect from the virus.

How long does the current vaccine last? Not sure yet as they are new vaccines and need followup data to be able provide a better answer, however 3-6months protection at this point.

Do you provide a vaccine card? Yes CDC Covid card with vaccine info on it (batch, date, etc).

Can a second shot be administered at a different location? Yes but must be of the same type (J&J, Pfizer, etc). Or get single dose shot.

Would you like more TeleTown Halls: 97% Yes

What is the most convienent time for a town hall: Evening 93%