COVID-19 vaccine booster doses

Booster Update - Starting September 24th, VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System will begin offering the new bivalent, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Veterans, employees, spouses of Veterans, caregivers, and CHAMPVA recipients who have completed a primary monovalent COVID-19 vaccine series. Our facility continues to offer the primary series of Pfizer and Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for unvaccinated individuals. COVID-19 vaccines are provided at no cost. VA also provides free COVID-19 testing to eligible Veterans.

Pfizer Bi-Valent Booster Shots Schedule:

Walk-ins will not be accepted.

• Omaha - By appointment only, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm.  Patients can also call to be scheduled into one of the Omaha Primary Care LPN nursing clinic available slots. 
• Lincoln – 8:30 am – 11:30 am. by appointment only.
• Grand Island – Daily by appointment only. Monday - Friday from 1300-1500.
• North Platte – Daily, by appointment only.
• Bellevue –Offered daily by appointment only. Patients can also schedule through Omaha VAMC
• Norfolk – Daily, by appointment only.
• Holdrege – Daily, by appointment only.
• Shenandoah - Daily, by appointment only.

Call 402-346-8800 to schedule your appointment.

For more information about updated boosters, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html

OMAHA VACCINE CLINIC: We are currently offering COVID-19 vaccines by appointment only. We also will continue to offer COVID vaccines with scheduled PCP appointments.

We provide Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster shots based on CDC guidance. Many people are eligible for booster doses, these include:

• All individuals who received a Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at least 2 months ago (no additional criteria necessary)
• All individuals ages 18 years and older who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least six months after their second dose.

See the CDC’s statement about expanded booster eligibility for all adults

About your appointment

Veterans receiving care at VA who wish to get a booster shot and a flu shot can get both shots during the same visit.

Note: you are required to bring your CDC COVID-19 vaccine card to your booster appointment. Only the CDC COVID-19 vaccine card (or a photocopy or photograph of your CDC card) will be accepted at this time.

This page is updated frequently, please check it regularly. Our Call Center is experiencing high call volumes and can only schedule a booster appointment for populations listed above.

 Locations can be found at www.vaccines.gov, or by calling 1-800-232-0233, or by texting your zip code to 438829. Veterans wanting a Moderna booster dose may also call to schedule a dose at our service locations above.

COVID-19 Testing

COVID-19 testing is available at the Omaha VA Medical Center.

Our testing site is located in the Ambulance Bay next to the Emergency Department entrance on the west side of the main hospital building. COVID-19 testing is by appointment only. Please call and speak to an urgent care nurse at 402-346-8800 before making your appointment. 

Call 9-1-1 or visit the nearest hospital in any case of emergency.

COVID-19 vaccine third doses for moderate to severe immune compromise

Third doses of a COVID-19 vaccine are different than booster doses. A third dose is for people who may not have had a strong enough immune response from the first two doses. A booster shot is for people whose immunity may have weakened over time. 

CDC recommends that people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems receive a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at least 28 days after their second dose, if they received either the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

This includes people who have:

• Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood
• Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response

If you have questions about the level of your immune compromise and if getting a third dose is appropriate, please talk to your health care provider.

We’re offering third doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to eligible immunocompromised individuals. Moderately to severely immunocompromised Veterans can schedule third dose vaccination appointments by calling (800) 451-5796 

Note: you are required to bring your CDC COVID-19 vaccine card to your booster appointment. Only the CDC COVID-19 vaccine card (or a photocopy or photograph of your CDC card) will be accepted at this time.

First and second doses

• Enrolled Veterans, non-enrolled Veterans, Veteran Spouses, Veteran Caregivers (12 and older), and CHAMPVA beneficiaries (12 and older): schedule your first or second COVID-19 vaccine dose appointments by calling (800) 451-5796
• Enrolled Veterans non-enrolled Veterans, Veteran Spouses, Veteran Caregivers (12 and older), and CHAMPVA beneficiaries (12 and older): Monday through Friday from 1200 pm to 1545 pm. They will be available for appointments and walk-in vaccine patients for 1st, 2nd, 3rd and/or booster covid vaccine and flu vaccine. at the medical center. 

Eligible adolescents age 12 to 17

Eligible adolescents ages 12 to 17 can get a Pfizer vaccine at VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System facilities. Adolescents are eligible if they meet either of these requirements:

• They receive CHAMPVA benefits, or
• They help provide care or assistance to a Veteran

The adolescent’s parent or legal guardian must come with them to get the vaccine. Both the adolescent and their parent or guardian must give their consent for the vaccine.

VA is not providing vaccines to adolescents aged 5 to 11.

SAVE LIVES Act

Congress has passed a law which allows us to offer COVID-19 vaccines to the following groups who are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine:

• Veterans
• Spouse of a Veteran
• Caregivers of a Veteran (12 and older)
• Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits (12 and older)

If you don't receive care at VA, we encourage you to pre-register online at least one hour before you go, to save time when you arrive. While at VA you will need to wear a face mask, and physical distancing measures will be in place. For more about vaccinations at VA, visit: www.va.gov/covidvaccine.

Note: Your employer, pharmacy, or local public health officials may offer you a COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage you to take the first opportunity you have to get a vaccine at the most convenient location for you.

If you have questions about getting vaccinated

Contact your health care provider if you have questions about if the vaccine is right for you. We encourage everyone to choose to be vaccinated. Vaccines will slow the spread of the virus, protecting you and your family, friends and neighbors. For more information, please visit CDC Benefits of Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine.

How to get your COVID-19 vaccine records online

You can get your records from My HealtheVet with a Premium account. Follow these instructions. If you don't have a free, Premium My HealtheVet account, visit My HealtheVet to enroll. If you're unable to access your vaccination record through MyHealtheVet, please  contact the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System Medical Records Office.

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• Sign up for VA's "stay informed" tool

 Minor consent form Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine (PDF)