BERNARDSTON — The Veterans Affairs (VA) Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System has worked with community partners to provide over 15,000 COVID-19 vaccines to veterans, their spouses and caregivers, not including the roughly 200 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine that were administered at Kringle Candle on Tuesday.
The VA New England Healthcare System is providing vaccines to not only anyone who served in the military, but also their caregivers, spouses and some other beneficiaries under the SAVE LIVES Act, signed by President Joe Biden on March 24. This expanded COVID-19 vaccine distribution depends on readily available vaccines, and requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to prioritize veterans enrolled in VA care.
Gerald and Lisa Allen, a couple from Chicopee, were able to benefit from the VA’s expansion of services to veterans’ spouses at Bernardston’s clinic, where about 200 single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines were administered.
“I’ve been out of the military now for 40 years and I never needed their service, which I’m thankful for, but I knew they were always there,” Gerald Allen said. “Well, lo and behold, I needed their service to expedite our shot.”
Gerald Allen said he and Lisa reached out to an enrollment center, but “that got all clogged up.” At the time, he was able to enroll himself for a shot, but not Lisa.
“Then they started the SAVE LIVES Act, and they gave us a phone number,” Gerald Allen said.
After calling, a coordinator connected him with local personnel and scheduled his appointment at Tuesday’s Kringle Candle clinic.
“They made me an appointment for 11 o’clock and said hopefully by the end of the day we’d get a call back from them and Lisa would get verified to go, too,” Gerald Allen recounted. “And that’s exactly what happened.”
The Allens were both excited to be fully vaccinated with the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Lisa Allen said the last year has been difficult, and like many people she has helped look after her mother, who is elderly and has underlying health conditions. Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, she said, will make her feel more comfortable being a caretaker for her mother.
Logistics Chief Suzi Krafft said staff members were proud of how smoothly Tuesday’s clinic ran, with people coming from as far as Chicopee or Palmer.
Kelly Loven, a nurse practitioner with the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System who helped create the model for the community VA clinics, said veterans were appreciative of the chance to receive the vaccine. Krafft added most patients were “generally very happy” to receive the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine, and not need to schedule a second appointment, as is the case with the Moderna and Pfizer shots.
Based on their personal medical history, veterans waited for 15 to 30 minutes after receiving their shot to ensure they did not experience adverse side effects before leaving. Loven said the only symptoms patients have displayed during previous clinics have been “extremely mild symptoms that we would expect.” Expected mild symptoms may include soreness in the arm, a headache, a minor fever, aches, and feeling tired or nauseous. Any symptoms that are more severe are recorded, and shared directly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“We have not had any of what we categorize as ‘severe side effects,’ both within the 15 to 30 minutes here and after,” Loven said.
Those eligible under the SAVES LIVES Act to receive a vaccine can go to va.gov/covid-19-vaccine to register and stay informed on the VA’s vaccine rollout process. A local VA medical center will contact veterans when additional vaccines are available.
Another veterans’ COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be held in Pittsfield on Saturday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Berkshire Community College’s Patterson Field House, 1350 West St. in Pittsfield.
Advance registration is required, and as of Tuesday, appointments were still available. To register, call 413-582-3110. Be prepared to provide your VA Healthcare ID or DD-214.
More information on the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System can be found at facebook.com/VACWMASS or centralwesternmass.va.gov.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.