The North Florida/ South Georgia Veterans Health System has extended its COVID-19 drive-thru vaccination clinic from today until Thursday at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center located at 1601 SW Archer Road in Gainesville.

The event began at 8:30 a.m. this morning for certain veterans based on CDC and VHA guidelines. Veterans must receive care in VA and there is no cost to get the vaccine.

In addition to meeting the criteria below, veterans should come in the following order: 

SSN ending in 4 or 5: Tuesday, January 19, 2021

SSN ending in 6 or 7: Wednesday, January 20, 2021

SSN ending in 8 or 9: Thursday, January 21, 2021

To promote physical distancing, no more than two veterans will be vaccinated per car. Mask and face covering are required during the vaccination process.

Veterans who meet current criteria will receive the Pfizer vaccine:

• Veterans aged 65 years and older

• Eligible, enrolled veterans that receive care at the VA aged 18 and older and are employed as fire fighters, police officers, corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, United States Postal Service workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and those who work in the educational sector (teachers, support staff, and daycare workers)and who have not yet received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine are eligible to receive the vaccine at no cost. Please bring identification or documentation that you are employed in one of these categories.

What you need to bring with you:

For expedited check-in, please review, print and complete the CDC Pre-vaccination Checklist and the Pfizer Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization document (both here). Please have these and your Veteran Identification Care card with you to assist our team in the process.

What to expect on the day of your vaccination:

Signage will provide instruction to the drive-thru location. For easiest access, enter the parking lot off of 16th Street and follow signage to the Independence garage. Please do not block intersections or road entry/exit points (see map here).

Have your completed CDC Pre-Vaccination Checklist and the Pfizer Vaccine Emergency Use Authorization document, along with your Veteran Identification Card, ready to present to our screeners.

After receiving the vaccine, you will be required to wait 15-30 minutes to be monitored for any reactions to the vaccine.

The COVID-19 vaccine requires two vaccine appointments. During your check-in process, you will be scheduled for the second dose 21 days from the first received dose. Both vaccine appointments must be at the same site of care to ensure you receive your vaccine from the same supplier.

You must be able to return to the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center for a second dose in 21 days. If you cannot commit to the follow up 21-day appointment, we can schedule you at a later time.

Important notes:

If you have any COVID-like symptoms or have had a severe allergic reaction to any other medication and/or vaccination that was given by a syringe in the past, you need to contact their primary care team prior to being vaccinated.

If you have had any other vaccine within two weeks, the VA will need to schedule you at a later date.

Here is the list of North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System facilities offering COVID-19 vaccines: 

• Malcom Randall VA Medical Center (Drive-thru clinic, no appointment needed – See details here)
• Lake City VA Medical Center (Walk-up clinic, no appointment needed- See details here)
• Jacksonville VA Outpatient Clinic (Drive-thru clinic, no appointment needed – See details here)
• Sergeant Ernest I. “Boots” Thomas VA Clinic (Drive-thru clinic, no appointment needed – See details here)
• The Villages VA Outpatient Clinic (by appointment only)
• Palatka Community Based Outpatient Clinic (by appointment only) 
• Ocala VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (by appointment only)
• Augustine VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (by appointment only)
• Middleburg VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (by appointment only)
• St. Marys VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (by appointment only)
• Marianna VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (by appointment only)
• Valdosta VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (by appointment only starting January 20, 2021)
• Waycross VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics (by appointment only starting January 25, 2021)

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the extended dates.