VA Central Iowa Health Care vaccinates more than 3,600 in a month Share Updated: 10:41 AM CST Feb 1, 2021 Share Updated: 10:41 AM CST Feb 1, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript EFFORTS IT TOOK TO GET HERE. >> THE 3000 VACCINATED AND VETERANS OUTSIDE THE V.A. FACILITIES. TO HOW THEY ARE SETTING UP THEIR APPOINTMENT. >> THIS IS THE FIRST FULL WEEKEND THAT WE HAD A VACCINE CLINIC. >> AND WHAT A WEEKEND IT WAS. THE MORE THAN 400 VETERANS VACCINATED OVER THE WEEKEND IS IN ADDITION TO THE 150-PLUS PEOPLE VACCINATED EACH DAY IN THE PAST WEEK. THE VA CENTRAL IOWA HEALTH CARE SYSTEM COVERS 42 COUNTIES, SERVING ABOUT 40,000 VETERANS. GAIL GRAHAM SAYS 14,000 OF THOSE VETERANS ARE 75 AND OLDER, WHICH IS THE AGE GROUP THEY’RE VACCINATING NOW. WERE GOING THROUGH LIST. WE HAVE THEIR PHONE NUMBERS. WE’RE REACHING OUT TO THEM. >> VETERANS DON’T CALL TO SET UP APPOINTMENTS. THE VA CENTRAL IOWA TEAM REACHES OUT TO THEM IF THEY’RE ELIGIBLE. GRAHAM SAYS THE NUMBER OF VETERANS THEY’RE ABLE TO SCHEDULE IS DEPENDENT OF THE ALLOTMENT OF THE VACCINE, WHICH COMES FROM FEDERAL PARTNERS. >> WHEN WE DO THEIR FIRST DOSE, WE GIVE THEM THEIR APPOINTMENT FOR THE SECOND DOSE. SO, THEY DON’T HAVE TO CALL. THEY DON’T HAVE TO GO ONLINE. >> SECOND DOSES WILL BE ADMINISTERED THIS WEEK IN THE CENTRAL IOWA VA’S NURSING HOMES. THE TEAM IS ALSO ADMINISTERING VACCINES TO VETERANS IN HOMELESS SHELTERS. MORE THAN 3600 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THEIR 42-COUNTY COVERAGE AREA HAVE BEEN VACCINATED SINCE DECEMBER. AS OF NOW, THEY’RE NOT ABLE TO VACCINATE NON-VETERAN SPOUSES OR VETERANS THAT AREN’T ELIGIBLE FOR VA HEALTH CARE. BUT GRAHAM SAYS THE LATTER CAN BE A QUICK FIX. >> WE’RE HAPPY TO WORK WITH THE VETERAN IF THEY BRING IN THEIR DD-214 AND INFORMATION FROM THEIR DEPARTURE OF THE SERVICE. >> IN DES MOINES, KAYLA JA