“Our mission has always been to care for our Nation’s Heroes, and being able to help Veterans get closer to having a normal life and contributing to our community’s lower infection rate is a new mission that we take seriously every day,” said Hines VA Hospital Director James Doelling.

In addition to providing vaccines at its main campus, Hines VA Hospital has been offering a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines to Veterans at select Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).

“Many Veterans can’t wait to see their grandchildren, children, and fellow Veterans again face-to-face. While Hines staff reminded them of the need to continue to stay safe and wear masks and keep distance, they acknowledged the shot is a ray of hope to ending the pandemic,” said Lorry Luscri, Hines VA Hospital COVID-19 vaccine coordinator. “One 98-year-old Veteran was brought to the clinic by his wife of 75 years and both were looking forward to being able to travel after being vaccinated.”

COVID-19 vaccines are currently in the initial limited-supply phase, followed by a general implementation phase, when large supplies of the vaccine will be available.

Hines began vaccinating Veterans on December 15, 2020, and continues to vaccinate according to this stratification plan: 

-- Veterans 65+ years old

-- Dialysis patients

-- Chemotherapy patients

-- Organ transplant Veterans

-- Homeless Veteran Program participants

-- Inpatient Spinal Cord Center

-- Community Living Center (CLC)

-- Residential Care Facility (RCF)

-- Hines employees

If Veterans are in one of the categories above and are interested in receiving a COVID-19 vaccine (first and second dose), they should call to schedule an appointment. The main facility is open 7 days per week for appointments. Veterans may call their provider, 708-202-2707, or 708-202-7000 for scheduling.

Veterans need to be enrolled in health care at Hines or one of its six CBOCs to be eligible for the vaccine. For enrollment information, visit https://www.va.gov/health-care/how-to-apply/.

Veterans may learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine at https://www.va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine/ and https://www.facebook.com/HinesVAHospital.

About Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital

Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, located 12 miles west of downtown Chicago on a 147-acre campus, offers primary, extended and specialty care to veteran patients in the Chicago area. We are the largest VA in the state of Illinois, where more than a million veterans reside. The hospital treats more than 56,000 veterans from World War II through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.