Public Health updates COVID vaccine status

  • Published
  • By Lauren Russell
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Health professionals from the 66th Medical Squadron offered additional insight to Hanscom’s ongoing COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan during a virtual town hall here Feb. 10.

Public Health officials augmented a previous town hall with questions from the community and explained recent updates to vaccine recipient eligibility as outlined in the Department of Defense prioritization schema and in the commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Bedford, Massachusetts, [Office of Veterans Affairs] is now offering the vaccine to veterans over 50,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Gough, 66 MDS public health emergency officer.

Veterans do not need to receive primary care at the VA, but must be registered in the system. Individuals can register online or by calling 877-222-8387. Registration information can be transferred between the Boston and Bedford campuses.

Veterans under 50 may be eligible if undergoing certain medical procedures such as chemotherapy or dialysis, or if they are homeless.

Officials also noted recent updates to state eligibility for caregivers.

“Beginning February 11, individuals who are caretakers of a person 75 years or older are now eligible to receive the vaccine,” said Lt. Col. Angela Riegel, 66 MDS chief of medicine.

More information on how to book co-appointments for individuals and caretakers can be found at www.mass.gov/covidvaccine.

Hanscom personnel will continue to be notified of eligibility and vaccine availability through their chain of command. Doses cannot be reserved.

Additional questions can be sent directly to 66 MDS Public Health by emailing usaf.hanscom.66-abg.list.publichealth@mail.mil.

For the most up to date information regarding COVID-19 vaccines at Hanscom visit www.Hanscom.af.mil/Coronavirus.