Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing

LOVELL FHCC UPDATE AS OF June 22:


Visitor Policy: We thank you for your patience. As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in the community, we are again restricting visitors. No visitors are allowed except on a case-by-case basis in the Community Living Center. Those visits must be arranged ahead of time with the nurse manager or social worker for the floor. Additionally, we ask patients to arrive alone for appointments, or with only one companion if necessary. We are trying to do everything possible to keep patients, visitors, staff and volunteers healthy.
 
Updated mask policy: Everyone entering any of our facilities is required to wear medical-grade surgical masks that we will provide you as you come in. You can wear our surgical masks alone or over your cloth mask. Growing evidence shows medical-grade surgical masks offer more protection against the airborne particles of COVID-19 than cloth masks.

Our enrolled veteran and Dept. of Defense (TRICARE) patients, as well as unenrolled veterans, their spouses and caregivers, may get their vaccines through Lovell FHCC. Scroll down for information on pediatric vaccinations, booster shots and active duty military vaccinations.

COVID-19 Testing: We are currently accepting patient walk-ins for symptomatic COVID-19 testing at our North Chicago location.

Veterans - Go to the PACT Clinic in Building 133CA

DoD Active Duty and Dependents (Including Staff) - Go to the Family Practice Clinic in Building 133EF/Ambulatory Care Clinic

Pediatric Patients - Go to the Pediatric Clinic in Building 133EF/Ambulatory Care Clinic

Lovell FHCC Civilian Staff - Contact Employee Occupational Health at 224-610-4215 for virtual assessment and instructions

Order at-home tests: Order free, at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests at COVIDtests.gov, or by calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). Order tests now so you have them when you need them. NOTE: Please report the results of your at-home tests to your provider.

COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments: We are offering vaccinations for adults and pediatric patients. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, appointments are preferred. 

All veterans, their spouses and caregivers, 18 and older, can schedule appointments between 8 - 11:30 a.m. and 1 - 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at our North Chicago hospital. Park in the four-story garage and come in the main (valet parking) entrance to the Ambulatory Care Clinic/Bldg. 133EF. Screeners will direct you to the Immunizations Clinic; then follow the signs.

Pediatric patients: Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Appointments may be scheduled between 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., Thursdays, in the Immunizations Clinic in the Ambulatory Care Clinic, Bldg. 133EF. 

Pediatric TRICARE beneficiaries, ages 5-17, please call 1-800-941-4501 to schedule. Beginning June 30, we expect to have the vaccine for TRICARE patients ages 6 months to 5 years old. 

Veteran family member caregivers, ages 12-17, please call 224-610-3899 to schedule.

Unenrolled veterans, their spouses and caregivers and Lovell FHCC volunteers, must register at Lovell FHCC. Pre-registration will save time. These are the registration options:

• Register by phone, by calling 224-610-3747. Then you may ask to be transferred to the scheduling line or call 224-610-3899 to schedule vaccination appointments.
• Present in person, during business hours, to Patient Registration. For specific questions regarding eligibility, please call 224-610-3747.

• For weekday registration, new patients should report to Patient Registration, located on the first floor of Building 133CA at our main North Chicago hospital.
• Weekend registration is conducted in the Emergency Department.

To register online, go to: COVID-19 Vaccines At VA | Veterans Affairs

Enrolled patients may continue to call 224-610-3899 to schedule weekday and weekend appointments at Lovell FHCC. The Vaccine Scheduling Line hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Boosters:

• Booster doses are for people who received the Moderna or Pfizer two-dose series or one J & J dose but their immune response may have weakened over time.
• For moderately to severely immunocompromised patients who received a three-dose series of Moderna or Pfizer, the booster would be an additional vaccine or fourth dose.
• Lovell FHCC currently is administering first booster doses to eligible patients 12 and older, per the CDC and FDA guidelines.
• The first booster shots are given a minimum of five months after patients complete the two-dose Moderna or Pfizer vaccine series or at least two months after receiving the Janssen (J & J) vaccine. 
• If you have questions about booster shots, please contact your provider.
• Lovell FHCC is administering second booster shots to adults 50 and older and immunocompromised patients 12 and up - by appointment Monday through Friday. For those who received one primary dose and the first booster of the Janssen vaccine, eligibility for a second booster is 18 and older. This second booster can only be an mRNA vaccine, Moderna or Pfizer. Call 224-610-3899 to schedule an appointment at the main hospital. Adult booster shots are given in the Immunizations Clinic, Bldg. 133EF (Ambulatory Care Clinic). 
• To qualify for the second booster, you must have received the first booster a minimum of four months prior.
• Veterans who received their first COVID-19 vaccinations elsewhere may get booster shots at Lovell FHCC after registering if they are not already Lovell FHCC patients.
• Veterans' spouses and family member caregivers (12 and up) may continue to get 1st booster shots as well. See pediatric sections above.
• NOTE: A COVID-19 vaccination card must be provided.

Active Duty vaccine information:

The Department of Defense already requires all active duty service members to get other types of vaccines before they join the military. The COVID-19 vaccine has been added to the list for all active duty service members (ADSMs) and National Guard members*. 

• If you are a service member and you have received a COVID-19 vaccine from a non-DoD provider, make sure to update your medical records. You can bring your COVID-19 vaccine card to Fisher Clinic (Bldg. 237 on Naval Station Great Lakes) to have your record updated.
• If you have not received your COVID vaccine yet, schedule your vaccine as soon as you can.
• Lovell FHCC staff members (active duty and VA civilian employees) should contact Employee Occupational Health to schedule a vaccine appointment. Email: FHCCLovellStaffCOVID-19VaccineRequest@va.gov. Questions? Send to: FHCCLovellOccupationalHealthCOVID19@va.gov.
• DoD dependents may contact the Lovell FHCC appointment line to schedule appointments: 224-610-3899. NOTE: To schedule appointments for TRICARE beneficiaries ages 5-11, and ages 6 months to 5 (after June 30), call 800-941-4501.
• For Active Duty, DoD civilian employees, and DoD contractors: Limited walk-in for primary series and booster vaccinations for Moderna and Pfizer are available 8-11 a.m. Wednesdays at Fisher Clinic, Bldg. 237, Naval Station Great Lakes, in the Immunizations Clinic.
  - Those not enrolled for care at Lovell FHCC must register before they may receive the vaccination, at least 24-48 hours prior.
  - To register, call 224-610-3747
  - Vaccines will be made available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
  - The Fisher Clinic, Bldg. 237 Immunizations point of contact may be reached at 847-688-6712, ext. 89702 (not for scheduling). 

Get the COVID-19 vaccine to protect yourself, your family, your community and our nation!

To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.tricare.mil/COVIDVaccine.

Watch Lovell FHCC social media pages (https://www.facebook.com/lovellfhcc,https://twitter.com/lovellfhcc) and our website for updates. You also may refer to the DoD site: https://www.defense.gov/explore/spotlight/coronavirus/.

The official website of the Military Health System also is a very good resource for the latest vaccine information, inlcuding the DoD vaccine mandate: https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Combat-Support/Public-Health/Coronavirus