CLEVELAND — Editor's note in the video player above is from March 8, 2021.
All Northeast Ohio veterans who are enrolled in VA healthcare are now eligible to receive the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, regardless of age or pre-existing conditions, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced on Tuesday.
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Due to the VA's unique patient population, VA vaccination tiers use a separate vaccine allocation. Currently, state vaccination priority groups do not apply to enrolled and eligible Veterans receiving their vaccine from VA.
Qualifying veterans are eligible to schedule for the vaccine beginning on Tuesday, March 9.
VA Northeast Ohio is currently vaccinating at the following healthcare systems:
- Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
- Akron VA Clinic Annex
- Parma VA Clinic
- Youngstown VA Clinic
Additionally, the healthcare system is scheduling pop-up vaccination clinics for other Northeast Ohio locations as the supply of the vaccine continues to increase. Veterans looking to schedule for the COVID-19 vaccine can do so by completing the VA Northeast Ohio Vaccine Survey or by calling the VA Northeast Ohio Vaccine Scheduling Line at 216-707-7660.
The VA's announcement comes one day after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced that the state would be expanding its eligibility for the COVID-19 vaccine later this week. Beginning on Thursday, March 11, those 50-years-old and older, as well as those with Type 2 diabetes or end-stage renal disease will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
DeWine's expansion will make more than 1.2 million new Ohioans eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Last week, DeWine announced that he will drop all COVID-19-related health orders when the state reaches 50 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents for a two-week period.