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Veterans: The VA Of Greater Los Angeles Wants To Give You The Vaccine

The seal of the Department of Veterans Affairs hangs near the entrance to the Mobile Isolation Unit at the VA Hospital in Westwood. Chava Sanchez/LAist

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The Veterans Affairs of Greater Los Angeles is now offering COVID-19 vaccinations to all of the veterans it serves, regardless of age.

The organization is also trying to make it easier for vets to get the shots by offering vaccinations at community sites, instead of just at VA clinics.

Anyone in L.A. County who's enrolled with the VA health care system can request an appointment at clinics being set up by the VA, including one this weekend in the San Gabriel Valley.

It doesn't matter where they usually get care, according to Rob Merchant with the VA:

"So we may give people who get their primary care here in Downtown Los Angeles, but live closer to the San Gabriel Valley, the opportunity to have that vaccination on a Saturday morning or afternoon – that's a much better alternative for them."

This weekend's clinic is Saturday at the American Legion Post in West Covina. The clinic will also be open March 27 and April 3.

The VFW Post in El Monte will also offer vaccines on Mondays, until April 5th.

Wondering where vaccinations stand with veterans so far? Here are some stats from the VA of Greater Los Angeles (this includes L.A., S.L.O., Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern Counties):

  • Fully vaccinated veterans (first and second doses administered) = 10,426
  • Total veteran doses administered = 27,449
  • Veteran first doses administered = 17,023

For more info, you can visit www.losangelesva.gov.

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