Posted: October 9, 2021 --- Flu Shots by Post Commander, Carl Christophersen
Yesterday, I stopped by the Edmonds VA Clinic to ask about a postcard I had received from the VA Puget Sound Health Care System headlined by "Flu Shots coming to a facility near you in October". At the reception desk, I showed him the card and asked: "when will Flu shots be available here?
He adroitly pointed to the line that said "Flu Shots at Main Campus" referencing both the Seattle VA Hospitla campus and the Amreican Lake campus. I repeated my question. Then he said that they will be getting the actual Flu Shots at Edmonds in a couple of weeks BUT, he said, putting more intention into his words: "we are going to require an appointment to get a Flu Shot here".
I asked "can I get an appointment now?" He said "No, but you can in a couple of weeks". To which I replied: "Good to know. I will be back in a coupole of weeks.
# # #
Posted: October 6, 2021 --- Post Commander, Carl Christophersen
As
we sift through all the lies and fear and intrigue and divisiveness in what we today
refer to as our society, all exacerbated by a plethora of competing news
outlets, not to mention Facebook and the like, you may be interested in reading
how this all started.
On
our web site www.vfw3348.org; under
"Login”, there is a "Members Only” option that takes you to some choices that
you may find of interest. There are 22 parts called "First Principles” that
takes you through some details that led up to today --- complete with many
quotes from the likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James
Madison.
There
are many parts because each one was confined to 2 full twists of your mouse
wheel when scrolling each part --- to make it easier to confront. There also is
a "Table of Contents” which may sublimate your viewing selections.
In
addition, there is an educational aspect of our web site --- available to
anyone --- even non-members. All in one place.
Under
the "Programs” menu is the full text of the:
·
U.S. Constitution
·
27 Amendments to the Constitution
·
Declaration of Independence
Under
the "Resources” menu is the full text of the:
·
Veteran Benefits & Assistance (by far the most popular
menu on our web site)
·
Branches of the U.S. Government
o
Within which are the name & titles of key members of the
Executive Branch
·
Timeline of who could vote (from 1776 until today)
·
Ranks of every Officer & Enlisted (for each of the 6
Military Branches)
# # #
Posted: September 29, 2021 --- Post Commander, Carl Christophersen
I had my Pfizer booster shot a couple of hours ago. I have had no after affects.
# # #
September 28,
2021 Update
ATTENTION COMMUNITY CARE PATIENTS:
To more efficiently serve you, our VA Puget
Sound Community Care Customer Service Line (253-582-8440, ext. 64545,
206-277-4545 and 1-800-329-8387 ext. 64545) will temporarily have modified
business hours October 1- 15. During this time, our Community Care Customer
Service Line will be opened Monday-Thursday (8:30 a.m. through 4 p.m.) and
closed Friday October 1 , 8 and 15.
During the modified business hours, Veterans
may contact the National Office of Community Care Customer Contact Center @
877-CCN-TRIW (877-226-8749) for information regarding referral status, claims
questions, support with portal on TW.com and other general questions. Please
note the National Office Customer Contact Center does NOT schedule
appointments. Thanks for your understanding and patience as we take steps to
improve your patient experience.
COVID-19 VACCINES:
COVID-19 vaccinations (first, second and third doses
only; no boosters at this time) are available by appointment to Veterans,
spouses, and caregivers at our main campuses: Seattle (Thursdays from 1 to 3
p.m. and Fridays 8 to 10 a.m.) and American Lake (Mondays and Fridays from 8 to
10 a.m.). VA Puget Sound is not offering walk-in vaccine appointments.
Individuals should call 206-716-5716 to schedule a vaccine.
If you don't
receive care at the VA, sign up here (https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine)
prior to calling to schedule an appointment. It may be more convenient or
faster to receive your vaccine in the community, Veterans can use Washington
State’s COVID Vaccine Locator (https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/)
to obtain the vaccine in the community at no cost.
ADDITIONAL (THIRD DOSE) VACCINES:
The CDC now recommends a third vaccine dose
for certain groups of people with weakened immune systems who received either
the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. Data shows that these groups
of people are more at risk of serious, long-term illness from COVID-19. They
may benefit from a third dose to make sure they have enough protection against
COVID-19. At this time, we’re offering additional vaccine doses only for
certain groups of people with weakened immune systems.
You may be able to get a third dose of the
Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine if any of these descriptions are true for you:
- You currently receive
cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
- You have advanced HIV
(meaning you have a low CD4 cell count) or you have HIV and aren’t on
treatment at this time
- You received an organ
transplant and take medicine to suppress your immune system
- You received a stem
cell transplant within the past 2 years or are taking post-transplant
medicine to suppress your immune system
- A health care provider
has diagnosed you with a moderate-to-severe primary immunodeficiency (like
DiGeorge or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
- You currently take
high-dose corticosteroids or other medicines that may suppress your immune
system
- If your condition or
medication isn’t on this list and you think you have a moderately to
severely weakened immune system, contact your health care provider. They
can tell you if you can get a third vaccine dose at this time.
If you received the Janssen (J&J)
COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC doesn’t recommend another dose at this time.
BOOSTER VACCINES:
A booster shot is for people whose immune
response may have weakened over time. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
authorized a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine 6 or more
months after completion of a primary series for specific people. The
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends booster shots for
the highest risk populations (people 65 years and older, residents in long-term
care facilities and people with underlying medical conditions that place them
at higher risk for severe COVID infection).
While we have received VA
authorization to provide booster shots, we are finalizing our booster
distribution plan and expect to offer booster shots to eligible Veterans at VA
in the near future. In the interim, Veterans are encouraged to use Washington
State’s COVID Vaccine Locator (https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/)
to obtain the vaccine in the community at no cost.
Along with VA Puget Sound vaccine options,
Veterans can access Washington State’s COVID Vaccine Locator (https://vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/)
or VA Pharmacy finder (www.va.gov/find-locations/)
to find vaccine availability in the community. For additional and updated
information, please call the Vaccine Hotline at 1-800-329-8387, extension 64040
or visit www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/booster-shots-and-additional-doses/.
# # #
Posted: September 27, 2021 --- Post Commander, Carl Christophersen
The VA Hospital is not prepared yet to give COVID-19 boosters shots; however, they are advising veterans over 65, that they can get the booster shot at many local drug stores. You need to make an appointment online from whichever drug store is nearest to you. You MUST bring your COVID-19 Vaccine card because they have to write the date you get your Booster on the card.
I made my appointment for September 29th at the Pharmacy inside the Safeway store on 15th Ave NE & N 175th St --- right across from where the former Seattle Post Office used to be.
# # #
