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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'd like to share some good news stories of COVID-19 vaccine at VA nationally.
https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/83031/va-nurse-tuskegee-daughter-urges-veterans-learn-vaccines/
https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/83031/va-nurse-tuskegee-daughter-urges-veterans-learn-vaccines/
VA nurse, “Tuskegee daughter,” urges Veterans to learn about vaccines - VAntage Point
VA nurse Cheryl Owens, daughter of Tuskegee, has thought about the distrust for the health care industry that lingers in the African American community.
Are VA facilities receiving vaccines as part of the general state allocations or separate, federal allocations? Additionally, are local facilities deciding on vaccination criteria for veterans and staff or has the national VA issued formal guidance on how to proceed?
Veterans, as well as the public, have questions about the vaccines because they are new. Many of the common facts and myths that Veterans ask about are addressed on these CDC COVID-19 vaccine sites which address Frequently Asked Questions and common myths and facts about COVID-19 vaccines:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination
Answers to commonly asked questions about COVID-19 vaccines, including vaccine cost, availability, and types.
We're really excited to be offering a third vaccine in VA starting this week. This will allow VA to move toward our goal of offering vaccine to all Veterans interested in protection from COVID-19. We encourage you to get your vaccine as soon as it is made available to you. Sign up for VA’s Keep Me Informed tool https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/stay-informed and get more information on COVID-19 vaccines at VA website https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/
COVID-19 vaccines: Stay informed and help us prepare
We’re working to get COVID-19 vaccines to Veterans as quickly and safely as possible based on CDC guidelines and available supply. Stay informed and help us prepare.
Hello, and thank you all for taking our questions! My question is: it appears that the mRNA component is encapsulated in a lipid "bubble" so theoretically could bind to and be incorporated into any of our cells it encounters. If true, can this potentially lead to an autoimmune problem, and how does the cell turn off the mRNA from continuing to produce the spike protein? - thank you so much!!
Sara Oliver
Thanks for the question- the lipid nanoparticle 'bubble' around the vaccine just helps protect the mRNA until it gets into our cells. Once the instructions (mRNA) are inside the immune cells, the cells use them to make the protein piece. But the cell breaks down and gets rid of the mRNA soon after it is finished using the instructions.
More information on how the mRNA vaccines work is available here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html
More information on how the mRNA vaccines work is available here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/mrna.html
Understanding mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines
Learn more about how mRNA vaccines trigger our immune systems to produce antibodies that protect us against COVID-19.
CDR Tim O'Hara
Yes ma'am, that should be good if the vaccine products only enter immune type cells, but does the vaccine enter any other cells, then display the spike protein on their cell surface as well? - thank you again!!
Sara Oliver
Thanks- Our immune systems will recognize that the spike protein doesn’t belong there and begin making antibodies.
CDR Tim O'Hara
Yes ma'm, I understand. My concern was non-immune-type cells (i.e. muscle, connective tissue, blood vessel, nerve cells) having enveloped the mRNA/lipid component displaying the spike protein on their surface, prompting the antibodies/immune cells to attack them (essentially an autoimmune phenomenon)?
Andi Martinez
This is a Q&A typed chat. There is no audio or video component. Please type your question here now!
CAPT Virginia Beeson
Once we've had our vaccines, it's safe to socialize with others who've had their vaccines without masks if we are in our homes, right?
Dr. Jane Kim
While COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated high efficacy at preventing severe and symptomatic COVID-19, CDC notes that there is limited information on how much the vaccines might reduce transmission and how long protection lasts. In addition, the effectiveness of the vaccines against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants/mutants is not known. At this time, vaccinated persons should continue to follow current guidance to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated spaces, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, following CDC travel guidance, and following any applicable workplace or school guidance, including guidance related to personal protective equipment use or SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Read more: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
Read more: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html
Symptoms, testing, what to do if sick, daily activities, and more.
First, I'd like to thank all of you for your service and keeping us safe from both within as well as outside!!! My question relates to those military families who have fallen behind on their mortgages. What, if anything, can be done to help us? I am making payments but the interest is killing us!! My husband was Air Force 100% disabled Vietnam veteran service-connected. My mother was the wife of WWII Army 100% connected veteran. I was the caretaker for both. Both passed the same year 5 months apart and then came Covid-19. I am at the point where I want to speak to the actual investor!! I only get letters from the service provider and the VA contact continues to refer me back to the service provider. I appreciate forbearance but that will end at some point. I am inundated with calls and letters regarding the IRRL;however, I'm told you have to pay 6 months on time. Everything else is relaxed as far as credit check, income, out of pocket. Why can't the 6 month requirement be relaxed for us?? Of course, my income took a hit; however, I have enough income if I could bring the loan current. Thanks so much for listening and let's put our heads together to help these families. We are all Americans. We can do this. Save our homes!!
Dr. Jane Kim
Thank you for your question. We do not have a representative from VBA at this Rally Point Event today. We will have someone get back to you in this chat within the next week.
Dr. Jane Kim
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the need for and timing of booster doses for the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines has not been established. No additional doses beyond the two-dose primary series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines) or the one-dose (Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine) are recommended at this time.
Andrea Lerner
It is not yet determined if this would be needed. However, out of an abundance of caution and to be prepared, planning is underway to test booster shots to protect against variant versions of SARS-CoV-2.
Is it looking like a second round of vaccines or another vaccine will need to be developed to be needed down the line to fight COVID?
Dr. Jane Kim
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the need for and timing of booster doses for the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines has not been established. No additional doses beyond the two-dose primary series (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines) or the one-dose (Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine) are recommended at this time.
Andrea Lerner
It is not yet determined if this would be needed. However, out of an abundance of caution and to be prepared, planning is underway to test booster shots to protect against variant versions of SARS-CoV-2.
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To answer your second question, VA worked closely with the CDC to develop a national Risk Stratification framework for COVID-19 vaccine allocation. In this limited vaccine supply phase, VA also allows flexibility at the regional and local level to move through phases of vaccination while balancing vaccine supply, site-specific resources, vaccine confidence and status of the pandemic locally, as well as storage, handling and transportation requirements of available 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 as quickly as possible.