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COVID-19 vaccines and testing

Safe care is our mission. The Milwaukee VA offers the COVID-19 vaccine to ALL Veterans, Veteran spouses, caregivers of Veterans, and CHAMPVA recipients at no cost.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Information 

The health and safety or our Veterans and staff remain a top priority for VA. Vaccine remains the best way to protect everyone from serious illness. Protect yourself, your family, and your community by scheduling your appointment today. COVID-19 vaccine has been proven to be effective in diminishing the spread of the virus within our communities.

Veterans are asked to bring their valid VA ID card with them and the CDC Vaccination Card.

Who is eligible for a booster?

CDC recommends one updated (bivalent) booster dose:

  • For everyone age 5 years and older if it has been at least 2 months since your last dose.
  • For children age 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna primary series and if it has been at least 2 months since their last dose.
  • There is no booster recommendation for children age 6 months–4 years who got the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine primary series.

VA will continue to offer COVID-19 vaccine and boosters to those authorized under Save Lives Act recipients while supplies last. 

If you are moderately or severely immunocompromised (have a weakened immune system), you are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death. Additionally, your immune response to COVID-19 vaccination may not be as strong as in people who are not immunocompromised.

As with vaccines for other diseases, you are protected best when you stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines for your age group:

COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to monitor the latest COVID-19 data.

Updated (bivalent) booster shots

The Milwaukee VA offers updated (bivalent) COVID-19 booster shots. All shots are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, contact the Milwaukee VA Medical Center ZIHP clinic or the Appleton, Green Bay, or Cleveland community-based outpatient clinics:

If you choose to receive a shot in the community, please let your VA care team know so our records are up to date.

What you need to know:

  • Updated (bivalent) boosters became available on:
    • Sept. 2, 2022, for people ages 12 years and older
    • Oct. 12, 2022, for people ages 5–11 years
    • Dec. 9, 2022, for children ages 6 months–4 years who completed the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine primary series
  • Updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine also became available on Dec. 9, 2022, for children aged 6 months–4 years to complete the primary series.
  • CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines for their age group:
  • Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you have recovered from COVID-19 infection provides added protection against COVID-19.
  • People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
  • COVID-19 vaccine and booster recommendations may be updated as CDC continues to monitor the latest COVID-19 data.
  • Shots are available for all Veterans, regardless of enrollment status, as well as their families and caregivers.
  • Shots will be given by appointment only in certain community-based outpatient clinics and the ZIHP Clinic at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.
  • While the FDA and CDC have authorized both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for boosters, the Milwaukee VA only offers Pfizer.
  • You can “mix and match” vaccines: If you received Moderna for the first booster, you can get Pfizer for second. This includes Johnson & Johnson as well.
  • Reminder:  Bring your CDC immunization card.
  • If you choose to receive a shot in the community, please let your VA care team know so our records are up to date. 

Why is a booster important? 

• COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness fades over time.

• A booster will recharge your body’s ability to protect you from COVID-19!

For additional guidance on COVID-19 vaccine boosters: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html. 

COVID-19 Testing

Testing for COVID-19 is available for Veterans at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center in our ZIHP Clinic. Appointments are recommended by calling 414-384-2000, ext. 49069. Walk-ins will be accepted if space allows.

For information on obtaining in-home COVID tests, go to COVIDtests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). The Milwaukee VA does not have home testing kits available for distribution.

 

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