PITTSBURGH — As many await their chance to get the COVID-19 vaccine, thousands of eligible veterans will get the opportunity to receive it in the coming days.
This Saturday, Jan. 16 and Monday, Jan 18. from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is hosting walk-in COVID-19 vaccine clinics at its Oakland location. Appointments aren’t needed.
A spokesperson, Shelley Nulph, told Channel 11 that they hope to administer 1,000 vaccines each day, and don’t anticipate turning away any eligible veterans.
To receive the vaccine, veterans must:
- be 75 years of age or older
- be eligible for and enrolled in VA health care
- receive health care at VA Pittsburgh
Officials ask that eligible veterans not bring anyone else with them, unless they need help with mobility or another issue.
Those who are eligible and cannot make it to one of the clinics are advised to call their primary care team and request an appointment.
The 75 and older age requirement for the upcoming clinics is based upon Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.
Individuals ages 65 and older will be targeted next, but it’s unclear when that might be, Nulph said.
Already, the Pittsburgh VA has administered more than 5,000 vaccinations to nursing home residents, some other high-risk veterans and VAPHS employees who wanted the vaccine, Nulph said.
Channel 11 told you last month when the Pittsburgh VA was announced as one of 37 locations chosen to administer the Pfizer vaccine.
“Our veterans deserve the opportunity to get vaccinated,” said state Rep. Austin Davis, who has been spreading the word about the clinics, and encouraging every eligible vet to take advantage of the opportunity.
The VA facility in Oakland is located at:
4100 Allequippa St, Pittsburgh, PA 15240
If you meet the criteria but are unable to make it to the clinic, please reach out to your primary care team to request an appointment to get the vaccine.
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