VVA Chapter PI 887

MANILA VA OUTPATIENT CLINIC

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS

 August 8, 2021

 ECQ UPDATES WITHIN METRO MANILA – AUGUST 6 to AUGUST 20

As we near the end of our first weekend back under Enhanced Community Quarantine, I wanted to take a moment and share some quick updates. Throughout the remainder of the ECQ, VA Manila will remain open for scheduled appointments. We have been made aware of some limited delays that Air21 may experience with limited domestic air services, but we do not expect significant impacts beyond a few days of delay. The Pharmacy has also been actively pulling requested refills early and processing those in near real time. In addition to scheduled medical appointments, VA Manila will also continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines on both a scheduled and a walk-in basis throughout ECQ. Veterans and Spouses are still eligible for COVID-19 vaccines and should reach out to VA if you would like to get vaccinated. Please consider taking advantage of this opportunity now while it is still available.

VA Manila is providing text confirmations to all Veterans for their scheduled appointments, and Veterans can also access appointment confirmations on MyHealtheVet. We recommend carrying proof of appointment if you encounter checkpoints at provincial borders. According to Philippines Official Gazette, travel for medical and humanitarian reasons is a valid justification for travel between zones, and qualifies the individual as an authorized person outside of residence (reference Omnibus Guidelines on the Implementation of Community Quarantine in the Philippines: https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/…/20210520-OMNIBUS…).

Veterans who wish to cancel or change their appointment should contact the Clinic directly, either by telephone (+63-02-8550-3888, Option 2 or #MyVA) or by MyHealtheVet. The Clinic is offering some flexibility with scheduling and offering the option to convert appointments to virtual care (either telephone or Veteran Video Connect). If you would like to switch to a virtual appointment, please ensure that any required laboratory work is completed locally ahead of your appointment. Your provider really needs this information to be able to provide you with the best medical care possible.

QUICK COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATES:

The US Food and Drug Administration recently extended the expiration date of VA Manila’s current vaccine supply through September 21, 2021. As such, we will continue to provide scheduled and walk-in appointments on weekdays between now and Tuesday, September 21, 2021.  The Clinic is also planning to have one more large weekend Clinic the weekend of September 11-12, 2021. Additional details on this will be forthcoming.

If you are a non-enrolled Veteran who has never been a patient at the Manila Outpatient Clinic, or a spouse of a Veteran, you can register for a vaccine by email. Please refer to previous clinic updates for a copy of the scheduling worksheet. Send completed worksheets to ManilaCOVIDVaccine@va.gov. A member of the VA Manila Staff will contact you.

VA Manila is still unable to provide COVID-19 vaccines to dependents and caregivers. We estimate there are many thousands of Veterans and spouses who are still waiting for a vaccine, and we must prioritize these groups first. We will continue to provide regular updates as our supply allows us to further expand. Thank you for your continued patience.

If you are an enrolled Veteran who has already received a COVID-19 vaccine from an outside source either here in the Philippines or the United States, please send a copy of your vaccine record card to your provider via MyHealtheVet or take a photo of your vaccine card and send to ManilaCOVIDVaccine@va.gov. We would like to ensure we have an updated list of all Veteran patients at the Clinic who have received a vaccine.

Daily Walk-In Hours for COVID-19 Vaccinations starting Monday, August 9

VA Manila is trying to accommodate COVID-19 vaccines for as many Veterans, spouses, widows of Veterans, and CHAMPVA recipients as possible. To accomplish this goal, will be administering vaccines every weekday through September 21, 2021. Veterans and spouses can contact the Clinic to pre-register and get scheduled, which may assist with travel during the ECQ period. Walk-ins will also be accepted daily from 9AM to 11AM. This is a change to our walk-in hours, so please take note. In addition to weekday vaccine appointments, VA Manila is planning to have dedicated COVID-19 Mass Vaccine Clinics on the following Saturdays and Sundays:

Saturday, September 11, 2021     08:00 – 15:00     ** Walk-in Hours from 9A – 11A **

Sunday, September 12, 2021        08:00 – 15:00     ** Walk-in Hours from 9A – 11A **

(Tentatively scheduled and subject to change based on ECQ status)

How do I get scheduled for an appointment?

Getting an appointment for a COVID Vaccine is easy – follow one of these 3 steps!

A dedicated phone line has been set up at the VA Manila Clinic to accommodate the high demand to schedule vaccine appointments. Veterans can contact the Manila Outpatient Clinic at +63-02-8550-3888, Press Option 2 for the Outpatient Clinic, then press 3 for COVID-19 Vaccine Scheduling. Please understand that there may be extended hold times over the next several days as we try to schedule as many Veterans as possible. The Clinic’s phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8AM to 3PM, as well as on weekends during scheduled vaccine appointments.

If you would like to be scheduled on one of the upcoming Saturday or Sunday mass vaccination clinic days, you can send a Secure Message to your primary care team via MyHealtheVet with your preferred date and time. One of our staff members will get back to you to confirm your appointment.

You can also send an email with your preferred date and time to ManilaCOVIDVaccine@va.gov. Please include your last name, last 4 of your SSN, and your current address and phone number in your email so that we can confirm the information on file. VA Manila will send you a text message to confirm your appointment time, or an email reply if no cellular phone is on file.

What vaccine is available?

VA Manila will be providing the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson (Janssen) vaccine to Veterans. A link to the  Janssen / Johnson and Johnson Vaccine information page from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention is provided here.  This vaccine confers protection with just one-dose, rather than the two dose regimens required by the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Using the Janssen / Johnson and Johnson vaccine will allow VA Manila to vaccinate twice as many Veterans and save many Veterans the time and expense of traveling to the Clinic twice to receive their vaccinations.

This is the only vaccine that will be available during the upcoming vaccine campaign. There will not be a choice between other US FDA approved vaccines, and VA Manila does not know if future vaccine shipments will be made available and what type of vaccines may be sent to the Clinic in the future.

All three US FDA approved vaccines are safe and effective against COVID-19 virus, and are considered highly effective against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from the Coronavirus. While some vaccines report higher levels of protection, the three vaccines have not been studied head-to-head against one another, so it is not possible to make a comparison between the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson vaccines. We strongly recommend all Veterans receive a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

OTHER VA MANILA OPC CLINIC UPDATES

Changes to MyHealtheVet:

On September 1, 2021, the My HeatheVet Advanced account type will be discontinued. If an Advanced account is not upgraded to Premium before September 2021, it will revert to the Basic account level. Basic account holders will not have access to the VA Pharmacy module.

To upgrade to Premium account:

Option 1 – In Person (Face to face): On your next visit, please bring one Valid ID (VHIC, VIC, US Passport, Military ID, Driver’s License, etc.) present to Receptionist/Verifier.

Option 2 –  Online (DS Logon): Using sign-in Partner, please sign-in using your DS logon Premium account then click the button Upgrade – beside your name

Option 3 – Online (Id.me): Using sign-in Partner, please sign-in using your ID.me account then click the button Upgrade – beside your name

Thank you.

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS AT VA MANILA

The U.S. Embassy, along with the VA Manila Regional Office and Outpatient Clinic, will be closed in recognition of the following upcoming public holidays:

PH National Heroes Day – Monday, August 30, 2021

US Labor Day – Monday, September 6, 2021

US Columbus Day – Monday, October 11, 2021

NOTE: Plan ahead and order your refills 10 workdays in advance of holiday closures.  Air21 is also closed on these holidays so medications will be delayed if you fail to request refills 10 days in advance. If you run out of medications for a service-connected condition, you can buy the medicine from a community pharmacy and file a claim for reimbursement from the FMP.

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Daniel Gutkoski, MHA

Clinic Manager, VA Manila Outpatient Clinic

US Embassy to the Philippines, Seafront Compound

1501 Roxas Boulevard

1302 Pasay City, Metro Manila Direct: +63 (02) 8396-3735    Toll Free: #MyVA (#6982)