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Veterans Experience Live (VetXL): COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A. Join on March 3rd to ask your questions
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Please adhere to RallyPoint Answers and Discussion Conduct: https://rly.pt/33ySsg0
Due to the anticipated interest in the topic, and the possibility for receiving large amounts of questions, please be patient as the subject matter experts (SMEs) from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Health & Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) work to respond to your questions. Unanswered questions will be disseminated to the SMEs and will be responded to shortly thereafter.
VA also has a COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions page here: http://rly.pt/VAcovidFAQ
Stay informed about getting the COVID-19 Vaccine here: COVID-19 vaccines: http://rly.pt/VAstayinformed
Ask questions to the following experts:
» Dr. Andrea Lerner, MD - Medical Officer, Office of the Director, NIAID, NIH
» Dr. Dr. Jane Kim, MD - Chief Consultant, Preventive Medicine, VA
» Dr. Sara Oliver, MD, MSPH, LCDR - U.S. Public Health Service, Vaccine Task Force, CDC
Access to critical Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine information:
» COVID-19 Vaccines for Veterans: https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/
» Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/n-coronavirus/
» CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/ index.html
» HHS National Institute of Health Research: https://covid19.nih.gov
NIAID conducts and supports research at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. NIAID scientists and grantees are working to rapidly develop COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. These projects include conducting basic research and developing animal models to understand how the virus infects cells and causes disease, and what interventions can prevent and stop the spread of disease, as well as clinical trials evaluating therapies and vaccine candidates.
About the National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP) https://www.prevention.va.gov provides leadership for Department of Veterans Affairs’ national COVID-19 vaccine planning and rollout across the country. NCP leads a multi-disciplinary team that coordinates the VA’s COVID-19 vaccine communication, allocation and distribution efforts.
NCP is a field-based national program of VA’s Office of Patient Care Services that
strives to improve the quality of life for Veterans. NCP provides health care resources
for Veterans (https://www.prevention.va.gov/For_Veterans_and_the_Public.asp) and the public relating to disease prevention and healthy living, including links to other VA and government resources. NCP provides VA clinicians with evidence-based clinician training (https://www.prevention.va.gov/For_Clinicians/), guidance, tools and resources including clinician fact sheets, patient handouts and VA- and government-wide resources to support the delivery of high-quality health promotion and disease prevention services.
NCP also produces publications including VHA Prevention Policies and Guides (https://www.prevention.va.gov/Publications/VHA_Prevention_Policies_and_Guidelines.asp), as well as its annual NCP Highlights (https://www.prevention.va.gov/Publications/) that summarizes NCP activities and accomplishments.
CDC is focused on getting Americans vaccinated and ending the COVID-19 pandemic. A strong, nationally coordinated approach is critical to ensuring ALL individuals who wish to receive vaccine can receive it. Veterans Affairs (VA) is one of five federal agencies receiving a direct allocation of vaccine from the federal government to vaccinate their frontline workforce and persons in their care. CDC has been assisting VA with planning for this direct allocation of vaccine to VA for staff and veterans by providing technical assistance to VA planners on vaccine prioritization, storage and handling, IT systems, administration and communications. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/
Team Up Against COVID-19! Register now to submit additional questions to be answered on March 4th by Dr. Fauci here: https://rly.pt/3snlqZn
Due to the anticipated interest in the topic, and the possibility for receiving large amounts of questions, please be patient as the subject matter experts (SMEs) from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Health & Human Services (HHS) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) work to respond to your questions. Unanswered questions will be disseminated to the SMEs and will be responded to shortly thereafter.
VA also has a COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions page here: http://rly.pt/VAcovidFAQ
Stay informed about getting the COVID-19 Vaccine here: COVID-19 vaccines: http://rly.pt/VAstayinformed
Ask questions to the following experts:
» Dr. Andrea Lerner, MD - Medical Officer, Office of the Director, NIAID, NIH
» Dr. Dr. Jane Kim, MD - Chief Consultant, Preventive Medicine, VA
» Dr. Sara Oliver, MD, MSPH, LCDR - U.S. Public Health Service, Vaccine Task Force, CDC
Access to critical Veteran COVID-19 Vaccine information:
» COVID-19 Vaccines for Veterans: https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/
» Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.publichealth.va.gov/n-coronavirus/
» CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/ index.html
» HHS National Institute of Health Research: https://covid19.nih.gov
NIAID conducts and supports research at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. NIAID scientists and grantees are working to rapidly develop COVID-19 diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines. These projects include conducting basic research and developing animal models to understand how the virus infects cells and causes disease, and what interventions can prevent and stop the spread of disease, as well as clinical trials evaluating therapies and vaccine candidates.
About the National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NCP) https://www.prevention.va.gov provides leadership for Department of Veterans Affairs’ national COVID-19 vaccine planning and rollout across the country. NCP leads a multi-disciplinary team that coordinates the VA’s COVID-19 vaccine communication, allocation and distribution efforts.
NCP is a field-based national program of VA’s Office of Patient Care Services that
strives to improve the quality of life for Veterans. NCP provides health care resources
for Veterans (https://www.prevention.va.gov/For_Veterans_and_the_Public.asp) and the public relating to disease prevention and healthy living, including links to other VA and government resources. NCP provides VA clinicians with evidence-based clinician training (https://www.prevention.va.gov/For_Clinicians/), guidance, tools and resources including clinician fact sheets, patient handouts and VA- and government-wide resources to support the delivery of high-quality health promotion and disease prevention services.
NCP also produces publications including VHA Prevention Policies and Guides (https://www.prevention.va.gov/Publications/VHA_Prevention_Policies_and_Guidelines.asp), as well as its annual NCP Highlights (https://www.prevention.va.gov/Publications/) that summarizes NCP activities and accomplishments.
CDC is focused on getting Americans vaccinated and ending the COVID-19 pandemic. A strong, nationally coordinated approach is critical to ensuring ALL individuals who wish to receive vaccine can receive it. Veterans Affairs (VA) is one of five federal agencies receiving a direct allocation of vaccine from the federal government to vaccinate their frontline workforce and persons in their care. CDC has been assisting VA with planning for this direct allocation of vaccine to VA for staff and veterans by providing technical assistance to VA planners on vaccine prioritization, storage and handling, IT systems, administration and communications. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/
Team Up Against COVID-19! Register now to submit additional questions to be answered on March 4th by Dr. Fauci here: https://rly.pt/3snlqZn
Coronavirus COVID19
Health
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Responses: 53
I would like to know if there is any backing to the claim that's going around that if females still of age to have kids recieve the shots and wind up getting Covid anyways that the possibility of becoming infertile is high. I am 27, qualify under 1A (still havent gotten a text, call, or anything about scheduling an appointment). As someone who would like kids this is very concerning to me and a large part of why I was for the vaccine and now on the fence.
I have read numerous studies showing people getting Covid or zinc deficient in vitamin D deficient. Why doesn’t the VA push these vitamins for its veterans. Also very important the right kinds of these vitamins. Colloidal forms seem to be the best. A recent article from the Cleveland clinic showed no significant decrease yet the form of zinc they were using in other studies have shown to bePretty much useless.
SrA Kevin Rooney
Joe Burdo I also read is important to use K2 with the supplements so it stays in your bloodstream and not create an issue on the linings
SrA Kevin Rooney
PO3 Charity Ann G sadly. Reminds me of a few decades ago when doctors were curing cancer with Laetrile. The big cancer centers tried to repeat the studies and said it failed. The problem was they were only given patients 10% of what the doctors were giving when they were actually curing people. Big Pharma has such a stranglehold they actually got the FDA to ban apricot seeds which are very high in Leah trail a.k.a. B-17
SrA Kevin Rooney
PO1 Sherry Michel The big question is what form is it in you also need K2 supplements with it
Dr. Jane Kim
Please talk directly to your health care provider about best practices for building and/or improving your immune health.
Andi Martinez
Follow-up question: Can spouses and children sign up to be part of the vaccine trials?
Andrea Lerner
Anyone over 18 can visit the link here: https://combatcovid.hhs.gov
Information to help you make decisions about your health and joining vaccine or clinical trials or donating plasma to help win the fight against COVID-19.
Andrea Lerner
Andi Martinez - For those under 18, it depends on their age. Check out these 2 links on clinicaltrials.gov to check eligibility:
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04649151?term=pediatric&cond=covid+vaccine&cntry=US&draw=2&rank=2
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04713553?term=pediatric&cond=covid+vaccine&cntry=US&draw=2&rank=4
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04649151?term=pediatric&cond=covid+vaccine&cntry=US&draw=2&rank=2
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04713553?term=pediatric&cond=covid+vaccine&cntry=US&draw=2&rank=4
A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Reactogenicity, and Effectiveness of mRNA-1273 Vaccine in...
A Study to Evaluate the Safety, Reactogenicity, and Effectiveness of mRNA-1273 Vaccine in Adolescents 12 to 18 Years Old to Prevent COVID-19 - Full Text View.
Dr. Jane Kim
You can find specific information about eligibility for VA-supported trials here:
https://www.va.gov/coronavirus-research
https://www.va.gov/coronavirus-research
Volunteer for coronavirus research at VA | Veterans Affairs
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Please sign up with VA to receive news to use and subscribe to the VetResources newsletter: https://www.va.gov/vetresources/
For those that contracted and recovered from Covid-19, does 1 dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine provide ~95% effectiveness in reducing the risk of getting COVID-19 again and/or transmitting to others, or is that 95% only reached after completing the 2 shot series...2 week waiting period?
Sara Oliver
The current recommend schedule for both mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna) are for two doses. Currently there are insufficient data to support changes to these recommendations. However, we will continue to collect and review further data on this topic and can make updates as needed based on evidence, in collaboration with FDA.
What is the estimated end date for all vaccine given and if there are wasted beung wasted what steps are being in place to get them to the areas that veterans are still have not received?
Dr. Jane Kim
In this limited supply phase, VA’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy is balancing site-specific resources, facility needs, vaccine availability, hesitancy and status of the pandemic locally, as well as strict storage, handling and transportation parameters of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. By encouraging local flexibility, VA can ensure that no vaccine is wasted as we work to vaccinate all our Veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated. By encouraging local flexibility, VA can ensure that no vaccine is wasted as we work to vaccinate all our Veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated as quickly as possible.
The Janssen vaccine which received U.S. Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on Saturday, February 27 can be stored in regular refrigeration and VA plans to distribute this to multiple locations beginning this week − including more remote locations where it has been extremely difficult to send the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines which have specific ultracold refrigeration needs in order to maintain potency.
To see if your local facility has available vaccine, please go to the local facility website. From the left column, choose “Health Care Services.” When the dropdown menu opens, choose “COVID-19 Vaccines.” You can also visit COVID-19 vaccines at VA website where you can also sign up for VA’s Keep Me Informed tool for updates about VA’s COVID-19 vaccine plans.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/
https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informed
The Janssen vaccine which received U.S. Food and Drug Administration Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) on Saturday, February 27 can be stored in regular refrigeration and VA plans to distribute this to multiple locations beginning this week − including more remote locations where it has been extremely difficult to send the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines which have specific ultracold refrigeration needs in order to maintain potency.
To see if your local facility has available vaccine, please go to the local facility website. From the left column, choose “Health Care Services.” When the dropdown menu opens, choose “COVID-19 Vaccines.” You can also visit COVID-19 vaccines at VA website where you can also sign up for VA’s Keep Me Informed tool for updates about VA’s COVID-19 vaccine plans.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/
https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informed
COVID-19 vaccines at VA | Veterans Affairs
We're working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal partners to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Veterans and VA health care personnel. We know you have a lot of questions, and information is changing quickly. Please check back often for updates.
Suspended Profile
Oven read multiple studies that contradict themselves with in paragraphs.
They say that the COVID19 vaccine is not a live virus, because 1: the COVID is not a “virus” but a protein.
2: Same paper states that while the vaccine is. It a live virus, the chance of the recipient developing COVID and shedding LIVE viruses could be a risk.
Which in my 13 years of working in medicine means...
You can spread it after being vaccinated while you are processing the viral load!?
I thought this was just ann
“RNA messenger”.
So which is it?!
What is the potential for those who have not been vaccinated or developed covid to become sick from someone who has been vaccinated!?
And what over all is the testing numbers on pregnant and nursing women?
And will there be routine follow ups on health, blood work and fertility 3-6-9 and 12 months post injection?
Who is following the millions of people getting the vaccine? Researching the long term side effects!?
Thank you.
Spent 13 years in epidemiology and family medicine.
They say that the COVID19 vaccine is not a live virus, because 1: the COVID is not a “virus” but a protein.
2: Same paper states that while the vaccine is. It a live virus, the chance of the recipient developing COVID and shedding LIVE viruses could be a risk.
Which in my 13 years of working in medicine means...
You can spread it after being vaccinated while you are processing the viral load!?
I thought this was just ann
“RNA messenger”.
So which is it?!
What is the potential for those who have not been vaccinated or developed covid to become sick from someone who has been vaccinated!?
And what over all is the testing numbers on pregnant and nursing women?
And will there be routine follow ups on health, blood work and fertility 3-6-9 and 12 months post injection?
Who is following the millions of people getting the vaccine? Researching the long term side effects!?
Thank you.
Spent 13 years in epidemiology and family medicine.
Diane Rood
My husband has a kidney transplant from his daughter and the VA Hospital told him to strongly think about getting the shot and also said it is NOT a live vaccine. ???
Dr. Jane Kim
mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine to protect against infectious diseases. To trigger an immune response, many vaccines put a weakened or inactivated germ into our bodies. Not mRNA vaccines. Instead, they teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. That immune response, which produces antibodies, is what protects us from getting infected if the real virus enters our bodies.
We don’t know how long protection lasts for those who are vaccinated. What we do know is that COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice.
Experts are working to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity. CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.
If you are pregnant, you may choose to be vaccinated when it’s available to you. There is currently no evidence that antibodies formed from COVID-19 vaccination cause any problem with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta.
People who are trying to become pregnant now or who plan to try in the future may receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. There is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines. There is no routine recommendation for taking a pregnancy test before you get a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talking with a healthcare provider may might help you make an informed decision. Learn more from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about vaccination considerations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
After getting vaccinated, you may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. The most common side effects are pain and swelling in the arm where you received the shot. In addition, you may have fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more from CDC about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html
We don’t know how long protection lasts for those who are vaccinated. What we do know is that COVID-19 has caused very serious illness and death for a lot of people. If you get COVID-19, you also risk giving it to loved ones who may get very sick. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a safer choice.
Experts are working to learn more about both natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity. CDC will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available.
If you are pregnant, you may choose to be vaccinated when it’s available to you. There is currently no evidence that antibodies formed from COVID-19 vaccination cause any problem with pregnancy, including the development of the placenta.
People who are trying to become pregnant now or who plan to try in the future may receive the COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to them. There is no evidence that fertility problems are a side effect of any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines. There is no routine recommendation for taking a pregnancy test before you get a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you have questions about getting vaccinated, talking with a healthcare provider may might help you make an informed decision. Learn more from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) about vaccination considerations for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
After getting vaccinated, you may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection. The most common side effects are pain and swelling in the arm where you received the shot. In addition, you may have fever, chills, tiredness, and headache. These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days. Learn more from CDC about what to expect after getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect/after.html
Symptoms, testing, what to do if sick, daily activities, and more.
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A conversation between the patient and their clinical team may assist with decisions regarding the use of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy, though a conversation with a healthcare provider is not required prior to vaccination.