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A shot in the dark
Author: TriSec    Date: 04/06/2021 11:01:08

Good morning. Today's the day!


I'll be soon off to the Back Bay and the Hynes Convention Center, where I will take my place in a long line for one of the many vaccine options available in this Commonwealth. (snort).

I think I'll be getting the Pfizer shot; Johnson & Johnson's single dose has yet to reach this part of the Northeast.

I am not quite at that magic age trigger, and despite being a cancer survivor, that didn't move me up on the list any. (Active cancer cases got to go first.) And for being an "essential" worker in an "essential" industry, we've been waiting for literally months for this chance.

But nevertheless - it is here.

Of course, we are about Veterans here at AAV, so what is their place in the vaccination line?


All veterans, their spouses and caregivers will be able to receive a coronavirus vaccine through the Department of Veterans Affairs once doses are made available, under legislation finalized by Congress on Friday.

President Joe Biden is expected to sign the measure into law in coming days. Veterans Affairs leaders had supported the move, saying they did not want to turn away any veteran from receiving the shots if they were available.

But under current rules, department medical centers were permitted to administer vaccines only to veterans already eligible for VA health care services, and for certain caregivers registered in VA support programs. That totals just under 7 million individuals.

Under the new bill, that number is expected to jump to more than 20 million. It would make vaccines eligible “to all veterans, veteran spouses, caregivers, and Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) recipients to the extent that such vaccines are available.”

The measure also for the first time makes veterans living abroad and enrolled in VA’s the Foreign Medical Program eligible to receive the vaccine through department facilities.

The legislation passed without objection in both the House and Senate.

“We’re one step away from ensuring that every veteran, spouse, and caregiver in this country has access to a vaccine from VA,” said Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester, D-Mont. “This legislation is a critical step in reaching our common goal of saving more lives and getting our economy back on track as quickly and safely as possible.”


The story is from about two weeks ago now; I presume it has been signed. The direct reference to PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN should tell you all you need to know about where this stood under the previous maladministration.


 
 

8 comments (Latest Comment: 04/06/2021 16:01:26 by BobR)
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