Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center

COVID-19 Vaccines

VA is providing COVID-19 vaccines, as authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Supply varies by facility. Get more information about COVID-19 vaccines at VA.

VA now offers COVID-19 booster shots to eligible Veterans, spouses and caregivers based on CDC recommendations. Supply varies by facility. Learn more about COVID-19 booster shots in VA.

If eligible, you can also receive a booster outside of VA. You can locate a vaccine site at https://www.vaccines.gov/search/. Make sure to take your CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card when you go!

We continue to encourage all eligible individuals to get vaccinated.

LOVELL FHCC UPDATE AS OF Jan. 13:

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.

Please note that even though we are trying to limit foot traffic whenever possible at our facilities during the COVID-19 omicron variant surge, we will continue to offer vaccinations for COVID-19 and flu. Getting vaccinated is the most important step you can take to stay healthy!

COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline: If you have questions about the vaccine, you are invited to call our COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline at 224-610-4636, weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Please note, hotline operators can't schedule appointments.)

COVID-19 Testing: We currently are not offering COVID-19 testing to outpatients at our facility. There are many community testing locations, including local pharmacies, independently operated* and government-run sites. Visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website to find government testing locations, including state public health department sites. 

*Please note, while there are legitimate independently operated testing sites that are not listed on government websites, some bad actors are taking advantage of the current COVID-19 surge and opening “pop-up” testing sites that are disreputable. Some of these sites are not returning results, or are charging for testing. COVID-19 testing should be free. Additionally, when researching testing sites, ask if the tests being used are FDA-authorized or where the lab results are being sent. If the answers are unsatisfactory, consider going to another testing site.

COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments: We are offering vaccinations for adults and pediatric patients. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, appointments are preferred. NOTE: The next Saturday pediatric clinic is Jan. 29 at our North Chicago hospital.

All veterans, their spouses and caregivers, 18 and older, can schedule appointments on weekdays at our North Chicago hospital. Vaccines will be given in Bldg. 133CA. Follow signs from the main Ambulatory Care Clinic entrance to the check-in table, near Radiology/Imaging on the second floor.

Pediatric patients (12-17): This includes TRICARE beneficiaries and family member caregivers of veterans. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and may schedule an appointment, between 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., Thursdays, in the Immunizations Clinic in the Ambulatory Care Clinic, Bldg. 133EF. Please call 224-610-3899 to schedule. 

Pediatric boosters for adolescents 16-17 are available between 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., Thursdays, in the Immunizations Clinic in the Ambulatory Care Clinic, Bldg. 133EF. Please call 224-610-3899 to schedule.

Pediatric TRICARE patients 5-11: We are currently providing the COVID-19 vaccine to TRICARE patients, ages 5-11, the same dates and times as 12-17-year-olds (see above). Please call 1-800-941-4501 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.
• Lovell FHCC currently is administering booster doses to patients 16 and older, per the latest CDC and FDA guidelines.
• The booster shots are given a minimum of six months after patients complete the two-dose Moderna vaccine, a minimum of five months after completing the two-dose Pfizer-bioNTech vaccine, 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 booster shots by appointment. Call 224-610-3899 to schedule an appointment at the main hospital. Adult booster shots are given in Bldg. 133CA. Follow signs from the main entrance, or canteen entrance, to the check-in table by Radiology/Imaging on the second floor. 
• 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 (16 and up) may get 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*. Mandatory vaccination will only use FDA-approved vaccines. At this time, Pfizer has received full FDA approval, based on rigorous studies and efficacy and safety data collected during use over the past year.

• If you're a service member and you’ve 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 haven't received your COVID vaccine yet, schedule your vaccine as soon as you can.
• Lovell FHCC staff members should contact Employee Occupational Health to schedule a vaccine appointment. Email: FHCCLovellStaffCOVID-19VaccineRequest@va.gov. All clinics take place in the Employee Occupational Heath area, Bldg. 133CA, Room 2D-135 (behind Imaging). Questions? Send to: FHCCLovellOccupationalHealthCOVID19@va.gov. Limited walk-ins are available for AD staff in the Bldg. 133CA COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, 8-11 a.m., weekdays.
• 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, 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, visitwww.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