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Tampa, Bay Pines veteran medical centers vaccinate thousands of local veterans

Eligible veterans can contact their VA care teams to express interest in getting a coronavirus vaccine.
 
A sign notifying vehicle of a Coronavirus roadside screening checkpoint as vehicles enter the Bay Pines VA Hospital at Bay Pines VA, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd, on Monday, March 16, 2020 in Bay Pines.
A sign notifying vehicle of a Coronavirus roadside screening checkpoint as vehicles enter the Bay Pines VA Hospital at Bay Pines VA, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd, on Monday, March 16, 2020 in Bay Pines. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Published Feb. 9, 2021

More than 85,000 veterans have received an initial dose of coronavirus vaccines through Florida VA medical centers according to national data as of Tuesday morning.

Of those, more than 24,500 have completed second doses.

Veterans who are eligible at this time, including those who are at least 75 years old, will be contacted by phone, email or text when vaccines are available. Those eager to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible can reach out to their care team and a note will be placed in their medical record, according to the VA site and Mary Kay Rutan, spokeswoman for the network that oversees Florida veterans’ medical centers.

At the Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, more than 14,100 veterans have received an initial dose, with more than 3,300 of those also receiving their second shot. At the Tampa system, more than 15,400 have received an initial dose with more than 2,800 the second.

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