Update to COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Procedures

The Central Virginia VA Health Care System will close its COVID-19 vaccine clinic and Drive-Thru testing clinic, on March 19, 2022.

Beginning Monday, March 21, 2022, Veterans may still receive a COVID vaccine or booster through their Primary Care Provider. Patients scheduled for a pre-procedural COVID test should proceed to the facility’s Multipurpose Room, which is located near the cafeteria.

If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, please seek assistance at our Emergency Department or another urgent care facility.

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All who are entering CVHCS facilities must continue wearing a mask or face covering, and all will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 infection. If you are experiencing any of the below symptoms, please proceed to the Emergency Department.

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

CVHCS will NOT provide the vaccine for walk-in patients at its Community-Based Outpatient Clinics in Fredericksburg, Charlottesville or Emporia.

The Spotsylvania County VA Clinic vaccine clinic will be available Fridays only from 8:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. for previously scheduled vaccine appointments. All other services will be offered during regular business hours.

Starting May 27, the CBOC vaccine clinic in Charlottesville will be open Thursdays only from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. All other services will be offered during regular business hours.

The Emporia CBOC is no longer offering vaccines.

Definitions of the eligible groups are:

Eligible Veterans: Anyone who served in the U.S. military is eligible to be vaccinated through VA.

Eligible Spouse: For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a spouse to include marriage, same-sex and common-law marriages. This includes a widow or widower of a Veteran. If you characterize your relationship as spousal, you can receive the vaccine. Please go to the Sign up to get a COVID-19 vaccine at VA page to register. 

Eligible Caregivers: For COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, we define a caregiver as a family member or friend who provides care to the Veteran. Caregivers may help the Veteran with personal needs like feeding, bathing, or dressing. They may also help the Veteran with tasks like shopping or transportation.

Updates to Our Visitation Policy

Central Virginia VA Health Care System is updating its visitation policy beginning Monday, March 28, 2022. Patients will be allowed one (1) visitor at a time between the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If you have a fever or other COVID symptoms, please do not come inside the facility. If you feel ill and need immediate medical assistance, please proceed to the Emergency Department. Masks are still required for all individuals and will be available at the entrances to the hospital.

On Monday, the facility will open two additional entrances: Community Living Center Entrance and Mental Health Entrance. They will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. These two entrances will join our Main Entrance, Rotunda Entrance and South Mall Entrance as entry points to our facility. The Emergency Department entrance remains open 24/7 for Veterans who needs those services.

Children under the age of 12 are not allowed inside the hospital, so please ensure appropriate coordination before your visit. 

Thank you for your cooperation as we work to help keep our Veteran patients safe.

Where can I find out more about the COVID-19 vaccine?

Veterans and Veteran caregivers may learn more about the COVID-19 virus and the COVID-19 vaccine at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/index.html.

For eligibility criteria and ways to schedule

You must have an appointment to receive a 3rd dose. No walk-ins will be allowed.

This effort will take place at the main medical center located at 1201 Broad Rock Blvd., in Richmond. Our Community-Based Outpatient Clinics in Emporia, Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Henrico and Spotsylvania County will not offer 3rd dose vaccines at this time.

For Veterans who received a different vaccine (Moderna or Janssen), additional doses are not available at this time. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Compromised Immune System Conditions: Veterans who previously received both shots of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and meet one of the following criteria will be eligible to receive a 3rd dose:

• Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
• Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
• Receipt of CAR-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
• Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
• Advanced or untreated HIV infection (CD4 count less than 200)
• Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., greater than or equal to 20mg prednisone or equivalent per day), alkylating agents, antimetabolites, transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory.