How the VA is helping rural vets get a coronavirus vaccine

The Department for Veterans Affairs, which serves about 9 million veterans, is trying to figure out how to fairly distribute the 1.5 million or so doses of coronavirus vaccines it has been given. Since many rural areas are having a hard time obtaining vaccines, the VA is making a special effort to reach rural vets with initiatives such as pop-up clinics, Aaron Bolton reports for Montana Public Radio.

But not just any vet can show up and get a shot. "At this point, the VA is only offering vaccines to those age 75 and older and those with certain underlying medical conditions," Bolton reports. They're using medical records to reach out to the most vulnerable vets.

So far, the VA has administered the vaccine to about 7 percent of the nation's enrolled vets. "The VA's national office says its weekly allocation of about 125,000 shots likely won't increase until March," Bolton reports.