During the pandemic, NOVA nurses have been on the frontline caring for Veterans at hospitals, VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, and even traveling to assist in COVID-19 hot spots. Now, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is distributing COVID-19 vaccines to Veterans and health care personnel.

In December 2020, the VA began using an additional 128 sites to vaccinate more health care personnel and Veterans using both the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. During the first two weeks of providing the vaccine (Dec.14 - Dec. 27), the VA administered the first dose in the vaccine series to over 50,000 health care employees and more than 5,000 Veterans residing in the VA’s Community Living Centers and Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders Centers.

“Having a second COVID-19 vaccine will enable us to reach more facilities and vaccinate more health care personnel and Veterans in additional parts of the country,” VA Secretary Robert L. Wilkie said in a press release. “We continue to implement our COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan and are grateful to be one step closer to seeing the end of this pandemic.”  

Additionally, the Military Times reports that tens of thousands of caregivers who give critical medical care to disabled Veterans will soon be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

With the VA hard at work inoculating Veterans and healthcare providers, NOVA wanted to hear from members about their experiences with the vaccine, and what it means to them now that it is finally become available.

Experience with the Vaccine

NOVA nurses expressed a varied range of experiences regarding the vaccine. Some nurses said that receiving a COIVD-19 vaccine shot was just like getting a flu shot.  “I had some mild soreness at the injection site for a day or so,” said one NOVA nurse. “But overall it was just like getting a regular flu shot.”

Another NOVA nurse was informed of the availability of vaccines at their clinic. Nurses were triaged and then sat in an auditorium at an appropriate social distance until their names were called. “We were also given education regarding the vaccine to read,” the NOVA nurse said. “It took about 15 minutes for my name to be called. I received the vaccine and was escorted to another room for 15 minutes for observation of side effects.”

Most of the NOVA nurses said they had some soreness at the injection site that lasted for one to four days. While most of the nurses reported no serious side effects, some reported flu-like symptoms, lingering headaches, and some fatigue. All of these are common side effects of the vaccine, as per the CDC .

One NOVA nurse commented on feeling a great amount of joy from getting the vaccine. “The elation and excitement from the morning of my vaccine appointment continues.”

Employers and the Vaccine

According to the NOVA nurses we talked to, it’s all hands-on deck when it comes to getting the vaccine into the arms of Veterans and health care personnel. “The organization is making every effort to provide the vaccines for all those interested in obtaining” noted the NOVA nurse. “Emails are sent daily regarding availability and opportunities to schedule an appointment to get vaccinated.”

One NOVA nurse said their clinic is opening another COVID-19 unit and reassigning a fair amount of staff to manage the vaccination clinic and other understaffed areas affected by COVID.

Other employers are asking and surveying nurses if they are interested in receiving the vaccine. One NOVA nurse told us that distribution is based on a survey taken prior to the vaccine’s arrival.

Another NOVA nurse said that vaccinating frontline workers and at-risk employees was a priority, in addition to Veterans. “My employer ensured that employees are a priority and coordinated the Veterans, as per the CDC guidelines, to get their vaccines distributed,” said the NOVA nurse.

A Meaningful Vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccines are a major step toward ending the pandemic and getting the United States back to some kind of normalcy.

An overwhelming amount of the NOVA nurses are excited and hopeful for the nation, and looking forward to when the vaccines are more widely distributed. The vaccine provides a sense of safety and a “light at the end of the tunnel,” to quote one NOVA nurse.

Another NOVA nurse received the vaccine to protect those that they have daily contact with. “It prevents me from getting the virus and thereby protecting anyone I’m in contact with,” said the NOVA nurse, “most especially the vulnerable patients we take care of at work and our loved ones at home.”

For some, it was important to receive the vaccine because it builds trust with Veterans, showing them that it’s okay to get them. “I influence what others do by my behavior, and the Veterans' experience relies a good deal on the trust they place in their healthcare providers,” said one NOVA nurse. “Ultimately it will be their decision, but I can certainly be authentic in the information I give to them by getting vaccinated.”

According to the National Urban League , African Americans have been infected with COVID-19 at nearly three times the rate of white Americans. For one NOVA nurse, getting the vaccine will set them as an example for minorities that don’t trust the healthcare system due to decades of abuse. “Taking the vaccine allows me to show myself as an example to other minorities that are distrustful of the healthcare system and are hesitant to take the vaccine,” another NOVA nurse said.

Overall, the vaccine distribution has been positive for NOVA nurses, Veterans, and other VA personnel. There have been some mild side effects, but due to a tremendous rollout from employers, NOVA nurses are expressing hope for 2021, something that was sorely lacking in 2020.

NOVA has provided a COVID-19 Resources page on our website and can be found here.