Following reports that veterans were being denied vaccinations at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities, U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (FL-18) today led a group of 9 bipartisan Members of Congress calling on the VA to ensure that all veterans who meet the CDC guidelines and are within their state’s tier for immediate immunization are able to receive the coronavirus vaccine at their local VA facility.
“No veteran should be prevented from receiving a COVID 19 vaccination simply because they are not currently enrolled in the eight priority groups established by VA regulation,” the Members wrote in the letter.
“For as long as the federally administered COVID 19 program is providing vaccination at no cost to patients, VA medical facilities should provide those vaccinations at no cost to veteran patients in accordance with CDC and state guidelines.”
The letter was also signed by Congressmen Ted Deutch (FL-22), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Greg Steube (FL-17), Byron Donalds (FL-19), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Michael Waltz (FL-6), Scott Franklin (FL-15) and Matt Gaetz (FL-1).
Congressman Brian Mast is in his third term representing the 18th Congressional District of Florida.
The letter can be read here: