VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
Director's Message February 26, 2021
Dr. Adam Robinson
VAPIHCS Veterans,
This week the U.S. has reached 500,000 deaths due to COVID-19. This milestone has occurred at the same time we are experiencing the hope of more vaccines, reduction in COVID-19 patients and reduction in employees infected or exposed to the virus.
It is a reminder that this remains a tough time for many of us. Many lives remain turned upside down. I am grateful to all of you who continue to work every day to take care of each other, your families, communities and our Veterans.
It will take time for the country to come back to its normal way of life, but every shot we give brings us closer to the end of this. We are in the last mile, but that mile may be the hardest. It has been a marathon, and we don’t know when this will end. I ask each of you to continue to support each other as you go through this pandemic, together we’ll get through this.
MASS COVID VACCINE EVENT – BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
VAPIHCS will be hosting our first mass COVID Vaccine distribution this Saturday, Feb 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only – no walk-ins at this time 1-800-214-1306 at Keehi Lagoon Memorial 2685 N Nimitz Hwy.
To date VAPIHCS has vaccinated: 67541070 Employees
5684 Veterans
Currently, we are vaccinating our Veterans who are 60 year-old or older, high risk, or an essential/frontline employee. Appointments are made by calling 1-800-214-1306 and are available Monday- Fridays until 8 p.m. and Saturdays until 4 p.m. Currently we have vaccinated more than 6K people.
COVID UPDATE
The CDC states that if you have a high risk exposure, even if vaccinated, you still need to quarantine.
Update on Moderna Side Effects
Q: If I had side effects from dose 1, will they be worse dose 2?A: You may have no side effects. What we know from the original studies and post-surveillance marketing is that side effects like fever, chills, aches, headache and pain at the injection site IS more common for dose 2. Be prepared-hydrate well the day of the vaccine. Be assured that side effects are a sign your system is building immunity. However, even if you have no or few symptoms, the CDC states the vaccine is still protecting you.
Q: Can I take Tylenol or ibuprofen?
A: The CDC recommends not to “premedicate” because it is possible that anti-inflammatories will decrease your immune response. If you develop symptoms following the vaccine that require treatment, it is acceptable to use one of these (unless your provider has told you not to ever use them because of other medical conditions and medicines.)
Q: Aren’t I protected enough after 1 dose?
A: No. People who receive the vaccine are on average about 50% protected. You do not have full immunity.
Q: Why is this important?
A: Vaccines are given to protect you AND to protect your community. The less COVID virus that is being transmitted in the community, the less likely it is that the COVID virus can mutate and form a more contagious and deadly virus (like in Brazil currently). The less COVID virus in the community, the safer our elderly, friends and families will be when they go grocery shopping, visit loved ones in a nursing home, etc.
This week’s 75th anniversary – We are highlighting our RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE.
VAPIHCS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICE has operated a highly responsive and effective Human Use and Non-human Use Research Program for more than 30 years which supports the institution with approximately $2.7 million in annual revenue. Funding has come from multiple sources including VA funds administered by the VAPIHCS Research Service and non-VA funds such as National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, and Pharmaceutical industry administered by our affiliated research non-profit corporation, Pacific Health Research and Education Institute. Our Research and Development Committee oversees its local Institutional Review Board (IRB). Since 2010, the IRB has been a “Community IRB” which also supports researchers at the VA Central California Health Care System in Fresno, CA. Our site was among the first to explore tele-mental health research to reach rural Veterans with mental health issues and participate in new interventions for conditions important to Veterans such as diabetes, traumatic brain injury and Parkinson’ s disease. Our researchers have published groundbreaking research on the epidemiology and pathology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease as well as a means of improved medication adherence with lower out of pocket drug costs. Additionally, we have participated in nation-wide studies on colon cancer screening and genetic contributions to disease through the Million Veteran Program. Our Research & Development (R&D) Program has made it possible for our Veterans to receive effective treatments and therapies that would not otherwise be available to them and to contribute our findings to the medical community at large.
It is our honor to provide you with safe, compassionate and quality care!
One Team, One Ohana!Adam M. Robinson, Jr., MD, MBA, CPE
Director, VA Pacific Islands Health Care System
VADM, MC, USN, (RET)
36th Surgeon General, USN
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