VVA Chapter PI 887

Allen “Pop” Reeves American Legion Post 123

VA MANILA OUTPATIENT CLINIC

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES

December 3, 2021

BLUF:  VA Manila is now offering boosters for Service-connected Veterans who received any COVID-19 vaccination. The Clinic will have our phone lines open this Saturday, December 4th, from 8A to 3P and December 5 from 8A to 3 P to accommodate Veterans calling to schedule appointments. If you’d like to schedule a booster, you can call us on Saturday or Sunday

COVID-19 BOOSTER VACCINATION UPDATES

VA Manila Outpatient Clinic began offering COVID-19 booster shots to eligible Veterans with Service-connected disabilities starting in mid-November.  Additionally, for Service-connected Veterans who have not yet had an opportunity to receive a vaccine, the Clinic will also offer the initial Pfizer Vaccine series. Because we are offering the Pfizer vaccine, we cannot accommodate walk-in appointments during these booster clinics, and all Veterans must have a scheduled appointment.  If you’re interested in a booster or receiving your initial vaccination series, please contact us.

The following dates are still available for Pfizer COVID-19 booster doses.

Appointments are available:

Saturday, January 15, 2022

Monday, January 17, 2022

To schedule

Phone the clinic at +63 (02) 8550-3888, first press option 2 to reach the Outpatient Clinic, and then press option 5 to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. You can also use VA Manila’s toll-free phone from your Philippine mobile number (Sun, Smart, Globe): #MyVA (#6982).

Phones will be open on Saturday, December 2 and Sunday, December 3 from 8A to 3P.

Email ManilaCovidVaccine@va.gov or send a secure message to your team.  Please include your preferred date and time in your message and we will schedule within one hour of your preferred time if available and confirm your appointment via email / secure message.

Who is eligible for booster shots?

Service-connected Veterans who received a Covid-19 vaccine are eligible to receive booster shots. Service-connected Veterans means Veterans with rated service-connected disabilities.

The eligible group includes service-connected Veterans who have received any Covid-19 vaccination in the US or overseas including, but not limited to, Pfizer, J&J, Sinovac, Sinopharm, AstraZeneca, and Sputnik.

Boosters can be given 2 months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccination.  Boosters can be given 6 months after any Covid-19 vaccination other than Johnson & Johnson.

Who is not eligible for booster shots?

Veterans who do not have a service-connected disability, spouses, caregivers, ChampVA recipients, and Veterans’ children are not eligible to receive a Pfizer vaccine booster.

The Office of General Counsel determined that the Save Lives Act does not apply overseas.  The Save Lives Act gives the VA the authority to vaccinate Veterans, spouses, caregivers, and children in the U.S.

Who is eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine series?

Veterans who are enrolled at the VA Manila OPC and have not received any COVID-19 vaccinations

Service-connected Veterans not enrolled at the VA Manila OPC who have not received any Covid-19 vaccination or vaccination series.

Service-connected Veterans who have only received one dose of Sinovac or one dose of Sinopharm (have not completed the two-dose series)

If you have received the Sputnik V / Gameyla vaccine, contact us for further guidance.

REMINDERS AHEAD OF YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTER APPOINTMENT:

On the day of your scheduled COVID-19 booster appointment,

Please bring your previously issued CDC COVID-19 vaccine administration card or other community-issued vaccination record.  Your CDC card will be updated. If you don’t have a CDC card, we will issue one to you with the booster dose documented on it.

Unless it is necessary for your mobility, we ask that you not bring a spouse/companion with you to the Clinic during your booster appointment. This will help to ensure we have sufficient space in our waiting rooms and can ensure social distancing inside the clinic

Please be here 15 minutes before the scheduled appointment time. There is no reason to arrive earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled time.

Please cancel and reschedule your appointment if you feel any of the following COVID-19 symptoms in the days leading up to your scheduled booster appointment:

•              shortness of breath, chest pains,

•              fever,

•              dry cough,

•              tiredness,

•              aches and pains,

•              sore throat

•              rash There is still limited parking in front of the Manila Outpatient Clinic due to ongoing construction of the Roxas Blvd Service Road by the Pasay City Government and MMDA. We recommend Veterans have their driver provide door-to-door service and drop and pick up Veterans for their vaccine appointments. Those who are driving themselves may be able to find parking north of the Clinic adjacent to Cuneta Astrodome at the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and A. Arnaiz Avenue.