Philadelphia VA Medical Center

Are you: 1) Enrolled with the Crescenz (Philadelphia) VA Medical Center?; 2) Age 65 or older?; Call (215) 823-4014 today Saturday Feb. 13 through Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021 and schedule an appointment to receive the first dose of the COVID19 vaccine this Monday, February 15, 2021. ... Call now. Appointments still available.

Last night, our Saracini/Willow Grove CBOC vaccinated 80 of our Veterans against the deadly COVID-19 virus. These Veterans are enrolled with us for their healthcare and receive it at our CBOC. Are you a Veteran enrolled with us for your healthcare and 65 years of age or older? We have just expanded our eligibility criteria to include enrolled Veterans with the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center who are 65 years of age or older as ELIGIBLE to receive the COVID-1...9 vaccine. If you fit this criteria (enrolled with our hospital and 65 years of age or older) you can call TODAY to SCHEDULE your appointment to get the vaccine! We are not taking WALK-INS, all appointments must be scheduled. Call (215) 823-4014 to get your appointment. We are vaccinating at the main hospital and at our five CBOCs (West Philadelphia, Saracini/Willow Grove, Burlington (NJ), Camden (NJ) and Gloucester (NJ). If you are enrolled with us and under the age of 65 AND at high risk due to chronic health issues, contact your primary care team to determine eligibility.

You don’t have to embark on your Whole Health journey alone. It’s important now more than ever that we stay connected to those we love. With the Live Whole Health app, you can easily share your goals and achievements with your family, friends and health care team. Download the app: https://mobile.va.gov/app/live-whole-health

COVID19 VACCINE ELIGIBILITY EXPANDS: The Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center is pleased to announce that for Veterans who are enrolled with us, we have expanded the list of eligible Veterans for the COVID-19 vaccine. We are now vaccinating Veterans age 65 and above. Please call 215-823-4014 to schedule your appointment. If you have recently received any other vaccine, you should schedule the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days after that vaccine. Veterans 65 and u...p, seen at our Community Based Outpatient Clinics (West Philadelphia, Saracini/Willow Grove, Gloucester, Burlington and Camden), can also contact their primary care teams to schedule an appointment. Enrolled Veterans under 65 years of age who are at high risk due to chronic medical conditions must speak to their primary care provider to determine eligibility.

Message from VA Secretary Robert Wilkie: This week, VA announced the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine distribution to an initial 37 VA locations. I’ve been moni...toring the first doses to VA’s frontline staff and high risk Veteran patients and am proud to share images of the great work being done at VA around the country. See more

Celebrating African American Military History - US Army 1st Lieutenant Vernon Joseph Baker, was the last living African American WWII Medal of Honor recipient when he passed in 2010. Vernon Baker led by example many times throughout his life. Born in 1919, Baker was orphaned at the age of four and, along with two sisters, was raised in Cheyenne, Wyoming by his grandparents. Because of Baker’s struggles with anger and fights with his grandmother, he was sent to live for ...Continue reading

Across VA, we are receiving and administering doses of the #COVIDvaccine. Learn more about the COVID vaccination plan at https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=5587.

VA releases COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan, vaccinations began this week: https://bit.ly/2WnNuhj

Today, the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VAMC welcomed the first FDA authorized vaccine in the fight against COVID-19. The vaccine will be a game-changer in our ability to stem the loss of life and spread of the virus. This limited first batch will be used to vaccinate our CLC residents and frontline staff who have consented to be vaccinated. As we begin this first step, it is our hope that each of you will join us in ending this pandemic by getting vaccinated too when larger quantities arrive mid-2021. Until then, continue to Wear a Mask. Wash your Hands, and Watch your Distance!

Several national level organizations are hosting 2020 Veterans Day virtual events due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a list of events, which will be updated as new information is available: National Veterans Day Observance The National Veterans Day Observance is held each year Nov. 11 at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony starts precisely at 11 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and honors and thanks all who served in the U.S. uniformed... services. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response has compelled VA and its partners (Arlington Cemetery and Military District of Washington) to host a greatly reduced ceremony this year. VA will live stream the ceremony at https://www.facebook.com/VeteransAffairs. National Veterans Memorial and Museum The National Veterans Memorial and Museum offers an online ceremony at 10 a.m. Eastern Time live on Facebook and YouTube. The program includes messages and remarks from Marine Corps and Navy Veteran and Emmy-winning talk show host Montel Williams; Army Veteran and President and CEO of Big Lots, Inc. Bruce Thorn; and Army Veteran and NVMM President and CEO Michael Ferriter. NVMM’s Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/NationalVeteransMemorialandMuseum/ and its YouTube page is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixPiGqTSLPAjjY4PKRMndg. For those near Columbus, admission is free for U.S. military Veterans, active-duty military members and Gold Star families. Vietnam Veterans Wall ceremony The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s Veterans Day Ceremony at The Wall will be an online ceremony only. The virtual commemoration is at 1 p.m. Eastern. Visit https://www.vvmf.org/honorservice for more details. Student Veterans of America Student Veterans of America offers ideas on planning a pandemic-friendly Veterans Day event. They also have a list of campuses across the country hosting events. To learn more, visit https://studentveterans.org/ne/veterans-day-on-your-campus/. Team RWB Workout of the Day Every Veterans Day, hundreds of Veterans and supporters participate in #WOD4Warriors, a functional fitness workout with Team RWB. Participants can join in virtually this year by completing the event from home. Visit www.teamrwb.org/w4w to register, access a training plan, and view the full, adaptive, and partner workout options. Other events For more events, including many state and local ceremonies, see https://www.va.gov/outreach-and-events/events/.

Did you know? VA is recruiting volunteers to safely test new vaccines and treatments to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone over the age of 18 can volunteer: Veterans, family members and friends. Your family and community will thank you for your service. Visit: www.va.gov/coronavirus-research

SAVE THE DATE: Dive into all things benefits with the Under Secretary for Benefits, Paul R. Lawrence, Ph.D. in the upcoming webcast on October 29. He will be sharing the accomplishments and challenges from fiscal year 2020. Register online to receive a reminder: https://bit.ly/2HDDbS5

https://shoutout.wix.com/so/5aNLt4h32 As we all do our best to remain safe during this ongoing Pandemic, we still pay homage to our Veterans and servicemen and servicewomen during November, Veterans Month. There are some very exciting VIRTUAL events that you can participate in remotely from your home while remaining safe. On Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2020 from 6-8pm. CMCVAMC and CHERP (The Center for Health Equity Research Promotion) are presenting "The Eternal Soldier" a dramatic reading by seven Veterans highlighting their own experience of coming home following their tour of duty. The narratives will be period dramatic pieces, poetry and short stories selected by the Veterans themselves. Please click on the link below to register for this powerful event. https://primetime.bluejeans.com/a2m/register/wfukzazt

VA partnership helps secure permanent housing for more than 4,000 formerly homeless Veterans. Read more. https://bit.ly/2TYq2WK #EndVeteranHomelessness

VA, Duke University and Baylor College of Medicine launch partnership to enhance breast cancer treatment for Veterans. Read more. https://bit.ly/3ep9AZ7

Ever wonder if creatures like Bigfoot or aliens exist? U.S. Navy Veteran Jennifer Marshall started her own show to answer those types of questions. Marshall now... believes she has the answers and shares her fascinating perspectives on this Halloween special episode of Borne the Battle. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW: https://bit.ly/35zF8Y7 FULL STORY: https://bit.ly/3mpLNLn

You are not alone. If you’re going through a challenging time, call (1-800-273-8255 and Press 1), text (838255), or chat with a responder at VeteransCrisisLine.net/chat.

VA reaches milestone, completing nearly half of Blue Water Navy disability claims received since beginning of year. Read more. https://bit.ly/31HSdO7

Join us in celebrating virtually Philadelphia's 6th Annual Veterans Day Parade and Festival.