VA Manila (RO&OPC) Sat, May 29 at 6:10 AM

VA Manila Outpatient Clinic Announcements and Reminders

1. MEMORIAL DAY 2021 Memorial Day is our most solemn national holiday. A time to celebrate the freedoms guaranteed to all Americans by those who have fallen in battle. A time to reflect and commemorate the service of those service members who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives while defending the values and ideals of the . Without their brave and valiant service, and the shared sacrifices of their families and loved ones, America and the world would be a different place today.

While COVID-19 continues to impact our ability to gather and pay homage to the fallen, I would like to share the US Embassy’s 2020 Memorial Day message, featuring former Ambassador Sung Y. Kim and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, which is available to view: https://ph.usembassy.gov/tag/memorial-day/. Their words are as true today as they were last year.

VA Manila leadership will participate in memorial services both at the in City and the Clark Veterans Cemetery in Clark Freeport. While these commemorations will not be open to the public, VA and the US Embassy will show our support and solidarity in remembering those Veterans who served and sacrificed. The US Embassy will post photos of these services to their social media pages and to the US Embassy website as Memorial Day approaches, which you can follow online via the following links: • United States Embassy in the Philippines (Website) • US Embassy in the Philippines (Twitter)

2. COVID-19 VACCINATIONS UPDATES: VA Manila is reaching the end of our very successful first wave of COVID-19 vaccinations. By tomorrow, Saturday, May 29, 2021, the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic will have vaccinated approximately 20% of the enrolled Veteran population at the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic, all in just the last six weeks. This has been a tremendous undertaking and would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the VA Manila’s superb pharmacy, physician, nursing, and administrative staff. They have worked tirelessly to schedule vaccine appointments, administer vaccines, and ensure that every possible dose of vaccine that we had was able to be used.

VA Manila is currently working with VA leadership in Washington, DC to coordinate the shipment and delivery of a second batch of COVID-19 vaccines. While we do not yet have a confirmed date for delivery, we are actively planning and intend to administer vaccines as quickly and safely as possible once the next shipment is received. For the second shipment, the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic is requesting the Janssen / Johnson and Johnson (J&J) vaccine. This is a one-dose vaccine option is preferred by our Veteran population in the Philippines who need to travel to Manila to receive the vaccine. Being able to complete their COVID-19 vaccination with just one visit to the Clinic, rather than two, allows us to vaccinate twice as many people as compared to a vaccine option which requires a second dose (such as Pfizer-BioNTech). The Janssen / J&J vaccine has been granted Emergency Use Authorization by both the United States and Philippines Food and Drug Administration, respectively, and is considered highly safe and effective. Links to the US Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine fact sheet are provided below: Janssen COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet: • FDA Janssen COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet (PDF) • FDA Janssen COVID-19 vaccine fact sheets in more languages (including Tagalog)

When the second vaccine delivery arrives, the Clinic will still focus our vaccination efforts on our enrolled Veteran population. Until VA Manila has been able to offer a COVID-19 vaccine to all enrolled Veterans who currently receive medical benefits at the Outpatient Clinic, we will not be able to expand vaccination efforts to non-enrolled Veterans or spouses and caregivers. The SAVE LIVES Act, HR 1276, which authorizes VA to provide vaccines to all Veterans, and spouses/caregivers, requires that VA prioritize enrolled Veterans ahead of all other groups in the absence of a readily available supply of vaccines.

We have received a significant number of requests from non-enrolled Veterans, spouses, and caregivers who have expressed interest in receiving a vaccine from VA Manila. At this time, VA Manila is unable to provide an estimate of when the Clinic may be able to begin vaccinating these individuals, but it will likely be at least several more months. Non-enrolled Veterans, spouses, and caregivers may wish to consider receiving a COVID-19 vaccine from any available source that is offered to you, including your local barangay, municipality, or provincial government or health department. As more vaccine supply is received by the Philippines, this may be a faster option to ensure you receive a vaccine and are protected from COVID-19. The best vaccine you can receive is the one that can get into your arm.

How to Let VA Manila Know You Want a Vaccine? VA Manila has put two new processes in place for Veterans to use to notify VA that they would like to receive a vaccine. These processes are different depending on your enrollment status with VA. Enrolled Veterans who have used VA Healthcare services in the past can register their intent to be vaccinated online by following the steps below in part A. Non-enrolled Veterans, Spouses, and Caregivers can register by sending an email as outlined below in part B.

A. Enrolled Veterans in VA Healthcare Services: You can register and let VA know you would like to get a vaccine from VA Manila online at VA's COVID-19 Vaccination Website (https://www.va.gov/health- care/covid-19-vaccine/). On this website, you will click on the “Sign Up Now” and “Sign Up” buttons. It will direct you to a registration form with the first question: • If you are an enrolled Veteran who has accessed VA Healthcare in the past, answer yes. If not, please follow the non-enrolled Veteran sign up process listed further below in this message. For currently enrolled Veterans, on the second page of the form, a question about your US Zip Code will come up. • Please use Zip Code 96517 when completing this form. This will direct your online submission to VA Manila, where we will use it to contact enrolled Veterans when it is your turn to receive your vaccine appointment. Please complete the form as you normally would otherwise, ensuring your email and telephone numbers are accurate. We will use these as the two primary ways VA Manila will reach you when it’s your turn to be vaccinated.

B. Non-Enrolled Veterans, and Spouses / Caregivers: Once VA Manila has had an opportunity to offer a COVID-19 vaccine to all enrolled Veterans at VA Manila, if we have enough vaccine available, we intend to offer vaccines to all US Veterans in the Philippines. It is estimated that as many as 30,000 US Veterans live in the Philippines, so this is a large cohort of Veterans. It is unlikely that VA Manila will be able to start vaccinating individuals in these groups for several months, if not longer. But while you wait, please follow the process below and let VA know you would like to receive a vaccine. We can use this information to help us with planning and to know you’d like a vaccine.

You can let VA Manila know that you’d like a COVID-19 Vaccine if you are a non- Enrolled Veteran, a Spouse or Caregiver of a Veteran, and would like a vaccine. To do this, please send an email to: [email protected]. Please use the following subject line in your email: “Non-Enrolled Veteran / Spouse / Caregiver Vaccine Intent” In the body of your email, include the following information: • Name, Date of Birth, Last 4 of Social Security Number • (if a spouse/caregiver of a Veteran): Veteran’s Name, Date of Birth, Last 4 of Social Security Number (if applicable) • Local Address (full street, barangay, city, province, postal code). • Local Phone Number and Email Address • Include a statement that you want to receive a COVID-19 vaccination, and are you willing to travel to VA Manila in Pasay City to receive the vaccine.

When you send a message to this information, a member of the VA Manila staff will compile your information into a secured database and maintain the information on file. When VA Manila receives enough vaccines to offer a shot to all enrolled Veterans, we will begin to contact non-Veterans in priority order based on age. VA Manila will maintain this information and contact Veterans with additional information about when a COVID-19 vaccine may be available for them from the Outpatient Clinic. After non- enrolled Veterans, if any supplies are remaining, we can offer them to spouses and caregivers.

You can also email [email protected] if you have any questions or need additional information about VA Manila’s vaccination efforts. This email box will be reviewed by several individuals and our goal is to respond to all questions within 3 business days. Veterans who are active patients should use Secure Messenger within MyHealtheVet to communicate with their care team.

3. VA MANILA OUTPATIENT CLINIC OPERATIONS – EFFECTIVE JULY 6, 2021 As VA Manila looks ahead to the July 4th holiday, we are planning for expanded in-person operations. The Clinic will resume providing most healthcare appointments as in-person effective Tuesday, July 6, 2021. The Clinic’s plan for its schedule is to have 80% of primary care and mental health appointments scheduled as in-person, and 20% of these appointments provided with virtual care options. Many Veterans have not been able to travel to see their provider face-to-face since the pandemic began. Especially for these Veterans, it is critical that you make every effort to schedule an in-person appointment, so that laboratory work and other critical healthcare services can be provided.

VA Manila also recently received its initial supply of the 2021 Southern Hemisphere Influenza vaccine. This vaccine will be made available to any enrolled Veteran who would like one. This is a separate vaccination from the COVID-19 vaccine and works on the strains of influenza that are most prevalent in the Philippines and region. There are no longer prohibitions from receiving multiple vaccines, including COVID-19, in one appointment. If you are at the Clinic and would like an influenza vaccine, please ask your care team.

At this time, due to the uncertainty with travel and COVID-19 prevention protocols, VA Manila is not certain if we will be able to travel to Veteran population centers in Angeles, Olongapo, Baguio, or Cebu to offer COVID-19 or influenza vaccines this year. We will continue to keep the Veteran community apprised of any updates or planned outreach events in future email messages.

4. UPCOMING HOLIDAYS AT VA MANILA The U.S. Embassy, along with the VA Manila Regional Office and Outpatient Clinic, will be closed in recognition of the following upcoming public holidays: • US Memorial Darrow Dayton • Monday, May 31, 2021 • US Independence Day\Monday, July 5, 2021 • PH Eid-al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) • TBD – Estimated July 20, 2021 • PH National Heroes Day • Monday, August 30, 2021 • US Labor Day Monday, September 6, 2021

NOTE: Plan ahead and order your refills 10 workdays in advance of holiday closures. Air21 is also closed on these holidays so medications will be delayed if you fail to request refills 10 days in advance. If you run out of medications for a service-connected condition, you can buy the medicine and file a claim for reimbursement from the FMP.

5. PARKING UPDATES AT VA MANILA Construction projects on Roxas Boulevard outside of the US Embassy Seafront Compound continue to impact VA Manila’s ability to offer parking in front of the Outpatient Clinic. The roadway in front of the VA Manila Outpatient Clinic is controlled by the Metro Manila Development Authority and Pasay City. VA Manila continues to encourage Veterans to look for other available parking options in front of Cuneta Astrodome, approximately 100 yards north of the VA Manila main entrance. As the project nears completion, we will share additional updates in future Clinic Updates.

6. 2021 CLOTHING ALLOWANCE APPLICATIONS Veterans who are eligible to apply for a clothing allowance for 2021 will need to submit their completed VA Form 10-8678, Application for Annual Clothing Allowance, directly to the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center’s prosthetics department. VA Manila is not able to receive or accept 2021 clothing allowance applications this year. Completed forms that are received at VA Manila will be returned to the Veteran.

Please be sure to fully review the VA Form 10-8678, and to follow the instructions completely. Veterans should include any evidence that supports their clothing allowance claim, including photographs of the prosthetic device, prescriptions or orders from non-VA providers with the medical recommendation for use of the device/prosthetic item, and any medical evidence which shows the device/prosthetic is for the treatment and support of a service-connected condition. Please also submit the receipt from the purchase of the device. Submitting this information in a single, complete package will help to expedite the processing of your application.

Completed forms and supporting documentation can be submitted via the following: By Mail: VA Pittsburgh Healthcare Center 1010 Delafield Rd Pittsburgh PA 15215 Prosthetics 132 (P/A) By Fax: +1 (412) 822-3736 By Email: [email protected] The deadline for submitting completed 2021 Clothing Allowance Applications in August 1, 2021. A copy of VA Form 10-8678 is available here: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/10-8678-fill.pdf Additional information on clothing allowances is available on VA’s website: https://www.va.gov/.../special-claims/clothing-allowance/.

Please continue to stay healthy and well. Your VA Manila Team Daniel Gotkoski, MHA Clinic Manager, VA Manila Outpatient Clinic US Embassy to the Philippines, Seafront Compound 1501 Roxas Boulevard 1302 Pasay City, Metro Manila Direct: +63 (02) 8396-3735 Toll Free: #MyVA (#6982) VA.GOV www.va.gov