Page 14 - Desert Oracle February 2022

SAVAHCS Director’s Report:

January 2022
LOCAL UPDATE

DID YOU KNOW?
• SAVAHCS is now offering COVID-19 booster shots by walk-in at the Tucson VA Medical Center.
SAVAHCS offers both Moderna and Johnson and Johnson (J&J) booster shots by walk-in at the Tucson
VA Medical Center. The SAVAHCS COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Tucson VA Medical Center is in
Building 4, Auditorium.
• VA Community Clinic COVID-19 booster shots by appointment only. Veterans can call (520)629-
4729 to schedule a COVID-19 booster shot appointment at one of our VA Community Clinics.
• The VA follows all CDC guidance in offering COVID-19 booster shots:
o For individuals who completed a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine series,
the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at least 6 months after their second
dose:
o 18 years and older.
o People 18 years and older are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot at least 2
months after their initial J&J vaccine.
o Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. CDC’s
recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.
o To learn more about the COVID-19 booster vaccines, Veterans are encouraged to
contact their primary care team.
• Ensure that your address is up-to-date for MISSION Act eligibility. Drive time eligibility under the
MISSION Act is calculated based upon your residential address. While prescriptions, appointment
reminders, mailed medical test results are sent to your permanent mailing address. Not updating your
residential address may impact your VA MISSION Act eligibility determination. If you need to update your
residential address, you can either do it at your next appointment or by
visiting https://www.va.gov/change-address/.
• The SAVAHCS participating in VA pilot program to improve services for Veterans that have
experienced intimate partner violence or sexual assault. The two-year initiative focuses on
strengthening community partnerships, training for VA staff and community partners, identifying effective
clinical interventions and providing outreach to underserved populations. The pilot program stems from
the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of
2020, Title 5 of the Deborah Sampson Act. This initiative allows opportunity to better understand and
address intimate partner violence and sexual assault among the Veteran population.
• SAVAHCS held Staff Recognition Week, December 12-18. Our SAVAHCS staff has performed
exemplary during these trying times, and last month the SAVAHCS celebrated our spectacular staff
during a week of recognitions for all the outstanding work that they have accomplished during the
pandemic.
• Virtual Diabetes Support Group- SAVAHCS offers a monthly virtual Veteran diabetes support
group. The support group is held on VA Video Connect on the second Thursday of each month starting at
4:00 p.m. Please contact Kelly Hamlin, Registered Dietitian at 928-317-9973 or via secure messaging
on My HealtheVet for more information or to sign up for the SAVAHCS Diabetes Support Group.
• Advanced Care Planning Online Workshops available on VA Video Connect (VVC). Veterans can
now take Advanced Care Planning workshops on VVC. It is open to Veterans and a guest of their choice.
For more information, please call 520-792-1450 ext. 1-2520.