HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Service members, Air Force civilian employees and TRICARE beneficiaries can now schedule COVID-19 vaccinations through the Defense Health Agency Appointing Portal.
The portal can be accessed at informatics-stage.health.mil/COVAX/, and officials from the 66th Medical Squadron said Hanscom personnel should be able to begin scheduling first and second vaccine doses this month.
At this time, appointments are limited to personnel identified in Tiers 1a, b, and c of the Department of Defense prioritization schema only. Personnel identified in Tier 2 are not yet authorized users.
“This tool will make finding and creating vaccination appointments easier for the patient and for us here at the clinic,” said Mark Jenner, 66 MDS group practice manager. “This will streamline the entire process.”
The portal is accessible from any device and does not require a common access card. Once on the website, personnel can navigate step by step to their respective installations, vaccination sites, and select either a first or second dose appointment in 15-minute blocks. The portal will generate an AudioCARE message to remind patients to schedule their second dose.
Patients are asked to bring a completed DHA Form 207 to their appointment.
According to Jenner, personnel will be required to answer pre-screening questions and input their Department of Defense identification number to determine eligibility.
“We will still abide by the DOD Schema, and people will self-certify on the portal that they qualify for the current tier and phase,” said Jenner.
Clinic officials are still encouraging Hanscom personnel to preregister for the vaccine through the state when eligible. Massachusetts residents can preregister for a COVID vaccine at vaccinesignup.mass.gov/#/ or find a vaccination site at vaxfinder.mass.gov/. New Hampshire residents can preregister at www.vaccines.nh.gov/.
“Military personnel who receive their vaccines off-base must notify Public Health so we can ensure their medical records are updated,” said Lt. Col. Ryan Gough, 66 MDS public health emergency officer.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Bedford, Massachusetts, is currently offering COVID vaccines to spouses and caregivers of veterans enrolled in VA healthcare. The Vaccine Clinic at the VA-run hospital in Bedford will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling 781-687-4000.
For any questions or concerns regarding the appointment app, contact Jenner at 781-225-6203.
Additional information on the DHA Appointment Portal can be found at www.Hanscom.af.mil/Coronavirus.