Hospital receives bivalent booster vaccines

These updated booster vaccines target more than one strain of the virus and are intended to protect recipients from even mild COVID infections, unlike the previous method of taking additional doses of the original vaccine.

Appointments are available in the COVID Vaccine Clinic each Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the exception of federal holidays. Veterans should note that these are updated hours. The simplest way to make an appointment is to call the vaccine clinic appointment line at 781-687-4000.

Eligibility

In accordance with the Saves Lives Act, signed into law by in March 2021, all Veterans, regardless of characterization of service or VA healthcare enrollment status, their spouses, and their care givers may receive the COVID vaccine at VA Bedford Healthcare System at no cost, along with recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits, including adolescents ages 12 to 17. 

New bivalent booster update

You can now get the bivalent booster at least two months after you complete the primary series or after any booster or additional dose you have received if these descriptions are true for you:

• You’re at least 12 years old (Pfizer) or 18 years old (Moderna), and
• You completed the primary vaccination with Janssen (J&J) or the Moderna or Pfizer series for your primary vaccine series.

You may choose either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for your Omicron BA.4/BA.5 bivalent booster. Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to protect yourself and your family. Vaccines and boosters continue to protect against new forms of the coronavirus (like Omicron). If you’re eligible, come in for your COVID-19 booster now.

Find more information about COVID vaccines, eligibility, and COVID testing at COVID-19 Vaccines And Testing | VA Bedford Health Care | Veterans Affairs.