PHOENIX — The Phoenix Veteran Affairs Health Care System will start vaccinating veterans and frontline healthcare workers Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced.
The Phoenix VA will be one of the first 37 VA sites in the country that was selected to provide vaccines to large numbers of people and store the vaccines at extremely cold temperatures, according to officials.
"After many months of tireless efforts, we are thrilled the vaccine is here and honored to be one of the first VA sites to administer it," said Dr. Alyshia Smith, Medical Center Director. "We are following the VA COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan to ensure a safe, evidence-based and equity-focused vaccine rollout for VA frontline workers and Veterans"
RELATED: Arizona COVID-19 vaccine distribution plans, availability, and more
The VA COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan, which was released Monday, describes where vaccinations for veterans, staff, and other federal partners is to be distributed. Part of the plan includes a risk stratification framework, which identifies those at highest risk to receive the vaccine.
“VA employees have provided life-saving COVID-19 care to thousands upon thousands of people, and this plan demonstrates how the department continues to play a crucial role in the nation’s response to the pandemic,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie.
The plan also covers vaccine distribution in the United States, Puerto Rico, and U.S. territories where the VA offers healthcare to veterans.
If you would like more information about the VA coronavirus vaccine plan, click here.