Page 16 - Desert Oracle September 2021

on Wednesday, August 25. This will be a short-term support group (4-6 weeks) to help Veterans get
through this tough period. The group is not meant to replace any mental health treatment that a Veteran
may already be receiving. If you, or a Veteran you know, is interested in this support group, there are two
ways to join: in-person or VA Video Connect.
o For the in-person group, Veterans just need to show up at to the Mental Health clinic located in
Building 90, Room1426 on Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. For the VA Video Connect
support group, please call (520)792-1450 extension 1-6415 to register, and you will receive an
appointment link via e-mail.
o We also recognize that some Veterans may not be interested in a support group and may want to
address their needs individually. Veterans can access mental health care through their Primary
Care Provider or by walking into the Mental Health Clinic located in Building 90 at the Tucson VA
main campus or their local VA Community Clinic. Veterans can call (520) 629-4884 to schedule a
mental health appointment or online through myHealtheVet.

• Third dose of COVID-19 vaccine for the immunocompromised- On Thursday, August 12, 2021, the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for
immunocompromised people. SAVAHCS is reaching out to all Veterans and employees whom we know
are immunocompromised. A list of the potential conditions can be found on the CDC website. Veterans
can contact their primary care providers with questions. This authorization allows for a third dose of either
the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines only.
o The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) provides Moderna vaccine. If you
received a Pfizer vaccine previously, please find a Pfizer location within the community.

• On Monday, August 23 FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine (the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19
Vaccine- The SAVAHCS is currently a Moderna and Janssen vaccine site and currently there are no
plans to transition to the Pfizer vaccine.

• Veterans can save time by using MyHealtheVet for all their routine healthcare needs. Veterans can
make appointments, contact providers, and request prescription refills. To learn more, contact the
SAVAHCS MyHealtheVet Coordinator at (520) 792-1450 extension 1-6889.
o Updated! MyHealtheVet Advanced Account Changes: On September 15, 2021, the
Advanced level accounts for registered MyHealtheVet users will no longer be offered and all
My HealtheVet users are encouraged to upgrade to Premium accounts.
o Premium accounts provide enhanced security and better protect personal information
through identity verification.
o Premium users will maintain access to pharmacy features, including online prescription refills.
o Premium users will also be able to access key VA health records, use secure messaging,
manage VA appointments, and sign into VA mobile apps.

• *If Users do not upgrade, all Advanced accounts will revert to Basic and users will no longer be able to
access features to include: Requesting and tracking VA prescription refills online and viewing their
allergies and medication history from the VA electronic health record. Users can upgrade in person,
online or via video appointment. To learn more about the new upgrade, please contact the SAVAHCS
MyHealtheVet Coordinator at (520) 792-1450 extension 1-6889.

• Philips CPAP, BPAP and Respirator Recall: On June 14, 2021 Philips Respironics announced a
voluntary recall on CPAP, BiLevel PAP, and Ventilator Devices. (Potential health risks related to
deterioration of soundproofing foam).