The Salem VA Health Care System will began COVID-19 vaccination with the Janssen vaccine March 8 at Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Lynchburg, Staunton, Danville, and Wytheville following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization for this vaccine.
In clinical trials, the Janssen vaccine showed an efficacy of 66 percent against moderate to severe/critical COVID-19 disease occurring at least 28 days after vaccination — and demonstrated greater than 85 percent efficacy in preventing severe/critical COVID-19 disease occurring at least 28 days after vaccination.
“The Salem VA Health Care System is eager to be able to offer a second highly effective vaccine to more Veterans,” said Dr. Jeffrey Thompson, Chief of Pharmacy at the Salem VA Medical Center. “This one-dose vaccine will help us reach our ultimate goal of offering COVID-19 vaccination to all Veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.”
As of March 3, the Salem VA HCS has provided the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine first doses to more than 9,330 Veterans, employees and federal partners — and both doses to more than 2,942 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.
- Submitted by Rosaire Bushey, Salem VA Medical Center Public Affairs Officer
