COVID-19 booster shot offered at VA sites

Eligible veterans can now receive a COVID-19 booster shot through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The VA said in a news release Monday that it is administering the Pfizer booster shot “under emergency-use authorization,” following approval from the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

VA Secretary Denis McDonough said in the release that the authorization allows VA to offer veterans “an opportunity to maximize their protection” from the virus.

READ MORE: COVID-19 vaccines: What military families need to know

The booster is recommended for:

• People 65 years old and older who live in long-term care facilities; 
• People between the ages of 50 and 64 who have underlying medical conditions; 
• Those who are 18 to 49 years old with underlying conditions “based on their individual benefits and risks”;
• Anyone between the ages of 18 and 64 who have an increased risk of contracting the virus due to “occupational or institutional” settings.

Veterans eligible for a booster shot will be contacted, and they can arrange an appointment or receive the dose on a walk-in basis, the release stated.

For more information, visit the VA COVID-19 vaccines webpage or contact a local VA facility.

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