NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Tennessee Valley Healthcare System will be holding a walk-in COVID-19 vaccine clinic Saturday, February 13 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at its Clarksville, Nashville and Murfreesboro campuses. They will host future dates based on the supply of they receive from the CDC.
Veterans interested in receiving their first dose must be enrolled in TVHS health care and be 55 years old or older.
“We received our largest shipment of Moderna COVID-19 doses this week,” Jennifer Vedral-Baron, TVHS health system director, said in a press release. “So many Veterans have patiently been waiting for their vaccine. Now is their chance to act and get it.”
Per CDC regulations, Veterans must not have had any other vaccine within the last 14 days. Veterans who have contracted COVID-19 must wait 90 days to receive the first dose.
At the Alvin C. York campus in Murfreesboro, Veterans can follow the green arrows to the vaccination location inside the gymnasium. All parking lots will be open for Veterans to use. The Nashville campus is administering vaccines in the multipurpose room located on the first floor by the chapel. Directional signage will guide patients to the walk-in clinic.
Before entering the building, eligibility and enrollment will be confirmed and Veterans will be asked for their VA identification card. Masks are also required for building entry, and visitors are not allowed inside. Due to the high demand, there may be a wait.
Veteran Larry Cornett was eager to get vaccinated at the Alvin C. York Murfreesboro campus because with new variants of the virus, he didn't want to take any more chances. "Well I’ve already had COVID-19 and I’ve heard it’s pretty tough," said Cornett. "Because I’d already had a heart attack and a stroke so I thought this would take me out, but it didn’t. God had other plans for me."
VA employee Beverly Smith-Woods says she needs the vaccine so she can go see loved ones. "In order to go to the nursing home and visit my mother, we have to have the COVID vaccine," said Smith-Woods.
As soon as Beverly gets the second dose, she knows where and who she'll go see. "I’m going to go hug [mom], kiss her and I’m going to be at the nursing home all day long," she said.
Enrolled Veterans will need to return 28 days later to receive their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. For more information on TVHS vaccine updates, click here.
