VA's vaccination clinic now open for walk-in veterans and spouses

The Veteran’s Administration has announced that its Salt Lake City Health Care System has opened its COVID-19 vaccination clinic to all veterans and their spouses for walk-in shots. Until the announcement, vets and their spouses have needed appointments to receive the vaccine. On April 2, the clinic opened the vaccine to all veterans, their spouses and caregivers on a first-come, first-serve basis Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Just walk in and we’ll take care of you,” said Sally Rich, manager of the vaccine clinic. “We’re super-excited about the Save Lives Act, because we can vaccinate all veterans and their spouses, and that to us is huge.”

“We don’t want them to hurry up and wait anymore. We want them to get vaccinated and get on with their lives,” said Marissa Schwed, administrative clinic manager.

VA officials say they expect the pace to pick up with the walk-in availability, saying the clinic can vaccinate more than 400 people each day with minimal waiting time. So far, the VASLC has administered nearly 25,000 doses to veterans and staff and said they’re ready to do more as more vaccine doses become available, officials said.