Skip to content

COVID-19 Vaccine Information from the VA

vaccine-needle-COVID-vaccination

Find out how to get your COVID-19 vaccine at VA. And get the latest VA vaccine updates and answers to common questions.

Latest updates 

Primary vaccine update

The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine is now approved for people who are at least 18 years old and haven’t yet gotten a COVID-19 vaccine. Novavax requires 2 doses, at least 3 weeks apart, to complete the primary series. Boosters are not currently authorized for Novavax.

Second booster update

You should get a second booster shot at least 4 months after your first booster if either of these descriptions is true for you:

  • You’re at least 50 years old, or
  • You’re moderately to severely immunocompromised. If you have a weakened immune system, you may have already received an additional dose and a booster. You can still get a second booster. 

You can also get a second booster shot at least 4 months after your first booster if both of these descriptions are true for you:

  • You’re between 18 and 49 years old, and
  • You had the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID vaccine for both your primary vaccine and your first booster

You can choose either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine for your second booster.  

Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines

Staying up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines is the best way to protect yourself and your family. Vaccines and boosters continue to protect against new forms of the coronavirus (like Omicron). If you’re eligible, come in for your COVID-19 booster, second booster, or additional dose now.

Learn when and how to get booster shots and additional doses

Note: Not all VA health facilities have all types of vaccines. Facilities may offer different vaccines at different times. And not all facilities offer vaccines to youth under age 18. Confirm that the facility has the vaccine you want before you come in to get your vaccine.

Who can get a COVID-19 vaccine at VA

We offer COVID-19 vaccines to these groups:

  • All Veterans (including Veterans who live or travel outside of the U.S. and are eligible for the VA Foreign Medical Program) 
    Learn more about the VA Foreign Medical Program
  • Spouses and surviving spouses of Veterans
  • Caregivers of Veterans (including family members or friends who provide care to a Veteran)
  • Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits

How to get a COVID-19 vaccine at VA

We encourage you to stay up to date with all of your recommended vaccines. It’s the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community against COVID-19. This is especially important as new forms (or “variants”) of the coronavirus spread more quickly in the U.S.

How to get your first or second vaccine dose

  • Find a VA health facility that offers walk-in hours at their COVID-19 vaccine clinic. Not all facilities offer walk-in hours. Be sure to check the facility’s website for walk-in hours before you go. When you arrive, you may need to wait for the staff to prepare your vaccine.
  • Or call a VA health facility that offers COVID-19 vaccines to schedule an appointment. Our staff will help you find a time that’s convenient for you.

Here’s what to know before you arrive:

  • You must receive the same vaccine for your initial vaccine series. The Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax vaccines require 2 doses to be effective. You must receive the same type of vaccine for both doses. Not all VA health facilities have all vaccines right now. And facilities may offer different vaccines at different times. Confirm that the facility has the vaccine you need before you come in to get your vaccine.
  • If you don’t receive care at VA, we encourage you to pre-register online at least 1 hour before you go to a walk-in clinic. This will save you time when you arrive.
    Sign up to get a COVID-19 vaccine at VA
  • If you got your first vaccine dose outside of VA, you can still get your second dose at VA.
  • Everyone who enters a VA facility must wear a mask and complete our COVID-19 symptom screening.

Find VA facilities near you that offer COVID-19 vaccines

How to get your booster shot or additional dose

We offer COVID-19 booster shots to people who are eligible based on CDC recommendations. We also offer additional vaccine doses to certain groups of people with weakened immune systems based on CDC recommendations.

Learn more about booster shots and additional doses

More information about getting your vaccine at VA

It’s always your choice if you want to get a vaccine or not. Your decision won’t affect your VA health care or any of your VA benefits in any way.

If you have questions before you decide to get your vaccine:

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines

Learn more about COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy or breastfeeding

Get COVID-19 vaccine advice from Veterans and VA health care providers

Send a secure message to your VA health care provider

Find out how to get your VA COVID-19 vaccine records online

If you have more questions about COVID-19 vaccines at VA, call our MyVA411 main information line at 800-698-2411 (TTY: 711).

More helpful resources

Tags: