CLARKSBURG, W.Va. – Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center announced on Tuesday that it would begin administering COVID-19 vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on December 23, 2020, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization for this vaccine.
“Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center is eager to offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel and community living center residents,” said Dr. Glenn R. Snider, Medical Center Director. “Receiving the vaccine is like having hope delivered. As vaccine supplies increase, our ultimate goal is to offer COVID-19 vaccination to all veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.”
According to officials at the center, the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center is one of 113 VA Medical Centers across the country to receive the first limited supply of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Sites were identified based on the need for the vaccine according to CDC’s 1A prioritization and capacity to store the vaccine at -20C.
Officials explained that the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine was 94 percent effective in clinical trials in preventing COVID-19 disease. The vaccine is administered in two doses, 28 days apart. The side effects appear similar to those of other vaccines and are short-lived, according to the release.
Thirty-seven medical centers began offering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to health care personnel and Veterans on December 14. Fifteen additional VA facilities will receive an allocation of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine the week of December 21.
Even after receiving the COVID-19 vaccination, employees and Veterans should continue wearing face coverings, practicing physical distancing, and washing hands often.
As vaccines become available for more veterans, VA care teams will reach out to eligible Veterans to schedule vaccinations. There is no need to preregister or come to a facility to sign up.
