Tampa Veterans' Hospital Offering Vaccines To Veterans, Families

TAMPA, FL – The James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital & Clinics are now offering COVID-19 vaccine to all veterans who are patients of the JAHVH system of care, regardless of age or medical condition.

Additionally, the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County and the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital & Clinics have partnered to expand vaccine availability through a formal Federal Emergency Management Agency agreement.

Using vaccines provided by DOH-Hillsborough, the VA will provide vaccines veterans and their family members who meet the following state criteria:

• A veteran not currently receiving care through the VA
• A family member of any veteran, whether the veteran is a VA patient or not.
• A family member of a VA employee

Veterans and family members who meet the criteria visit the Tampa VA Eventbrite page to schedule vaccination appointments.

Vaccines are free and are available by appointment only as supply allows at the main hospital and clinics throughout Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco, Polk and Citrus counties.

To date, the James A. Haley facilities have provided both doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to more than 50,000 veterans, employees and federal partners.

Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization for the Janssen vaccine Feb. 27, the James. A Haley hospital and clinics will also be vaccinating veteans with this one-dose vaccine.

“James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital & Clinics is eager to add a third highly effective vaccine to our already robust vaccination operations,” said David VanMeter, interim director. “This one-dose vaccine strengthens our ability to reach veterans in rural areas, for example, and will help us achieve our ultimate goal of offering COVID-19 vaccination to all veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.”

In clinical trials, the Janssen vaccine showed a 66 percent success rate against moderate to severe COVID-19 occurring at least 28 days after vaccination and the Jansssen vaccine demonstrated greater than 85 percent effectiveness in preventing severe coronavirus infections.

The Tampa VA will reach out to veterans to schedule an appointment at one of its vaccination sites. Patients may also notify their primary care team about receiving the vaccine.