More than a million military retirees, spouses now eligible for COVID vaccination

https://www.militarytimes.com/pay-benefits/2021/01/15/more-than-a-million-military-retirees-spouses-now-eligible-for-covid-vaccination/

More than a million military retirees, spouses now eligible for COVID vaccination
Karen Jowers
2 days ago

If you’re one of the more than 1 million Tricare for Life beneficiaries who are age 75 and older, you’re now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination.

Defense and Military Health System officials are making it available, but there’s a caveat. Supplies of the vaccine vary by location. Defense Health Agency officials are working on options to help military hospitals and clinics to contact those who are 75 and older to let them know when the vaccination becomes available for them.

Meanwhile, officials advise beneficiaries to check their military hospital or clinic’s website, social media, and watch for information in the news media. Included in the first priority were health care personnel and seniors and staff in long-term care facilities, to include the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
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Many service members, retirees and families are watching the COVID-19 vaccination process and wondering when their turn will come.

That depends on your location and your personal situation. Officials are pumping more vaccine doses through the distribution channels for both military and civilian locations, and shots are going first to those who are more vulnerable. Fewer active duty family members are eligible at first because they are generally younger with less underlying health conditions. But many military retirees and spouses are in the group that will receive vaccinations in a higher priority group because of their age and underlying conditions, especially retirees in Tricare for Life, for Medicare-eligible beneficiaries age 65 and older.
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