VA Portland Health Care System expands vaccinations

The VA Portland Health Care System announced Monday it will provide COVID-19 vaccinations to anyone who served in the military, as well as their caregivers and spouses and some other beneficiaries, under the SAVE LIVES Act.

The expanded vaccinations depend on vaccine supply; the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to prioritize veterans enrolled in VA care.

The SAVE LIVES Act was signed by President Joe Biden on March 24. Those eligible to receive a vaccine under the act can go to www.va.gov/covid-19-vaccine to register. VA Portland will contact those who sign up to schedule their vaccination as the vaccine becomes available, the news release states.

Those eligible include:

• veterans receiving care through the VA.

• any veteran who served in the United States military (active duty, Reserve or National Guard).

• a spouse of a veteran.

• caregivers of veterans.

• recipient of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs benefits.

VA Portland is providing vaccinations at the Portland VA Medical Center, the Vancouver VA campus, and to a limited degree, at the Salem and Bend VA clinics in Oregon. The Portland VA system has already administered 56,000 doses of vaccine.