Aleda E. Lutz VAMC begins Janssen COVID-19 Vaccinations

March 4, 2021 - Aleda E. Lutz VAMC will begin COVID-19 vaccination with the Janssen vaccine next week following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Emergency Use Authorization for this vaccine.

In clinical trials, the Janssen vaccine showed an efficacy of 66% against moderate to severe/critical COVID-19 disease occurring at least 28 days after vaccination — and demonstrated greater than 85% efficacy in preventing severe/critical COVID-19 disease occurring at least 28 days after vaccination.

“Our facility is eager to be able to offer a third highly effective vaccine to more Veterans,” said Dr. Barbara Bates, Medical Center Director. “This one-dose vaccine will help us reach our ultimate goal of offering COVID-19 vaccination to all Veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated.”

As of March 3, 2021, we provided Moderna COVID-19 vaccine first doses to more than 6,000 Veterans, employees and federal partners — and both doses to more than 3,000 of these individuals.

Veterans who are enrolled and receiving health care in VA are eligible to get the vaccine when their facility has vaccine supply and reaches their risk category. This category includes eligible Veterans who are age 50 or older, Homeless, on Chemotherapy, Transplant patients and Dialysis patients. Veterans are required to enroll with VA in order to receive health care. However, to receive care in VA, enrollees must meet certain eligibility requirements under current law, which may include income limits.

Veterans can get the latest information and sign up to receive updates on VA’s COVID-19 vaccine webpage. The medical center and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) are reaching out to Veterans who are eligible for vaccination. Veterans may now call their PACT team or our call center at 989-497-2500, extension 11230 to schedule an appointment as openings are available.

Veterans who would like additional information can visit the VA COVID-19 vaccines webpage, visit our website at https://www.saginaw.va.gov/ or call our COVID-19 Hotline at 989-321-4155.