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VA Offering COVID-19 Vaccines To Veterans Who Meet Certain Criteria

Vaccine being administered.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vaccine being administered.

Veterans who are 65 or older, or who are essential workers, can receive the coronavirus vaccine through the Veterans Affairs health system - as supplies allow. 

Those who meet those criteria and already receive care at VA facilities in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Lake City and Tallahassee can receive the vaccine without an appointment while supplies last, on days that correspond to the last digit of their social security number.

  • SSN ending in 6 or 7: Wednesday, January 20
  • SSN ending in 8 or 9:  Thursday, January 21
  • SSN ending in 0 or 1: Friday, January 22
  • SSN ending in 2 or 3:  Saturday, January 23
  • SSN ending in 4 or 5: Monday, January 25

Additional dates will be forthcoming, according to Veterans Affairs.

Veterans who receive regular care at other VA facilities will be contacted by their providers to schedule an appointment. 

The VA has asked veterans to wear masks and short-sleeved shirts and to have their Veteran ID card ready.

The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System has vaccinated 10,000 veterans to date. 

Sydney manages community engagement programs like WJCT News' Coronavirus Texting Service. Originally from the mountains of upstate New York, she relocated to Jacksonville from Kentucky, where she reported on Appalachia's coal industry.