Poplar Bluff, MO – As COVID-19 and the Delta variant continue to put our communities and our country at risk, John J. Pershing VA Medical Center encourages Veterans and caregivers to obtain their vaccinations.
Medical Center Director, Drew DeWitt explained, “Research shows that COVID-19 vaccines offer good protection against the Delta variant, which has caused many hospitalizations and deaths and spreads more easily and quickly than other variants. According to the CDC, there is additional concern that the medical treatments we are using to treat people who get COVID-19 may be less effective against this variant.”
To prevent vaccine waste and maximize availability, the medical center will offer the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at each location on designated days:
- Poplar Bluff – Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Farmington – Mondays, 9-10 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.
- Sikeston – Mondays, 8-9 a.m. and 1-2 p.m.
- Cape Girardeau – Tuesdays, 9-10 a.m. and 2-3 p.m.
- West Plains – Wednesdays, 8:30-9:30-9 a.m. and 2:30-3:30p.m.
- Pocahontas and Paragould – Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m.
Veterans and/or their spouses or caregivers who request vaccinations on days other than those listed above will have the opportunity receive the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. Veterans do not have to be enrolled for VA health care services to be vaccinated by VA.
As a reminder, surgical masks are required on the entire Poplar Bluff medical center grounds and at the community clinics in Farmington, West Plains, Sikeston, Cape Girardeau, Pocahontas and Paragould.
DeWitt explained Veterans can also receive VA health care without in-person visits. “Veterans who want to be seen but find it inconvenient to come to their nearest VA clinic can access their VA care team for real-time video appointments using a mobile phone, tablet, or computer and VA Video Connect.”
VA Video Connect is a secure and private video connection for Veterans who prefer to receive care from home or a non-VA facility, find getting to a VA facility difficult or time consuming, are too busy to attend in-person appointments regularly, or need to see a VA specialist who is not located nearby for treatment. To facilitate these exams, VA can provide a free internet-connected iPad and peripherals to include a weight scale, pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor, thermometer and/or stethoscope so Veterans can be examined by their VA care team through telehealth. For more information, Veterans are encouraged to talk to their primary care provider about a consult.
“We are making every effort to protect our Veterans and their loved ones during this worldwide pandemic,” DeWitt continued. “And with the Delta variant, time is of the essence; we urge our Veterans to make their vaccination a priority.”
