VA San Diego Healthcare System

COVID-19 Vaccines

VA is providing the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines, as authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Supply varies by facility. Get more information about COVID-19 vaccines at VA.

We are working to vaccinate as many eligible individuals as quickly as possible.

Easier access to vaccines and more people eligible

VA is adding walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations at all VA facilities and outpatient clinics that offer COVID-19 vaccines. Please check hours for vaccination clinics.

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
• Recipients of Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) benefits

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.

As of Wednesday, April 28, 2021, VA San Diego had administered 68,997 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

All Veterans enrolled for health care at VA San Diego are eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccinations and may schedule appointments using VA’s online appointment scheduling tool at VA.gov or by calling our COVID-19 vaccine scheduling line at (858) 642-3810. Please be aware our call center is experiencing a significantly higher call volume than usual, which is resulting in longer than normal hold times. When the system reaches capacity, you will receive a message asking you to call back later. We sincerely apologize for this inconvenience and ask that patients use VA’s online appointment scheduling tool whenever possible.

Also, in accordance with the SAVE LIVES Act, we are vaccinating unenrolled eligible Veterans, Veterans’ spouses, Veterans’ caregivers and CHAMPVA recipients. Individuals in these groups must be registered with the VA before receiving vaccinations and may do so by visiting the sign-up page at VA.gov. Once registered, please allow one business day before contacting us to schedule your vaccine appointment.

COVID-19 vaccines may be available at non-VA sites and are generally without cost to the recipient. However, please note, because 2nd dose vaccines are being sent to the same location as where each person gets their 1st dose, you must get your 2nd dose from the same source as your 1st (except under very rare circumstances and prior approval). This will ensure 2nd dose vaccines are available for Veterans who were previously vaccinated at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. If you received your vaccination at a non-VA site, please let your VA primary care team know by sending them a photo of your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card as an attachment via My HealtheVet secure messaging.

We are administering vaccinations at our La Jolla medical center, and at our Mission Valley and Oceanside clinics. Patients must have scheduled COVID-19 vaccine appointments to receive their shots. For continued health and safety during the pandemic, minor children are not permitted in our medical facilities. Everyone who does enter must have an appointment – including those coming for COVID-19 vaccinations – unless the patient requires a caregiver’s assistance during their appointment. 

Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 Vaccine

VA has resume offering the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine to individuals 18 years and older, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance, following a 10-day pause recommended by the CDC and FDA after a very small number of people who received the vaccine experienced rare but serious blood clots. After careful review and evaluation, the FDA and CDC have confidence that this vaccine is safe for use and effective in preventing COVID-19. The available data show that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh its risks and the chance of blood clots occurring following its administration is very low. Anyone who is offered the J&J vaccine from VA will receive information about the potential risks and benefits of the vaccine, including the rare risk of blood clots and will be made aware of alternative vaccine options. The primary goal of COVID-19 vaccination is to protect those we serve from COVID-19, and VA’s priority remains the safety of all those receiving vaccine from VA, including Veterans, their spouses, caregivers, employees and federal partners.
 
Questions? Contact the VHA Media Relations at VHA10BCOM2MediaRelationsAction@va.gov.