The SAVES LIVES Act increased the numbers of those eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, including veteran spouses, caregivers, certain beneficiaries and others.

In April, President Joe Biden signed the SAVE LIVES Act into law (P.L. 117-4) to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs can provide COVID-19 vaccines to all veterans—including those not enrolled in VA health care, veteran spouses, caregivers, and some beneficiaries, including 12- to 17-year-olds, who qualify under VA’s Civilian Health and Medical Program.
According to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, the SAVE LIVES Act removed some of the legal limits on the medical care the VA can provide to veterans based on eligibility requirements.

“The SAVE LIVES Act increases the number of individuals who are eligible to get lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines from VA from 9.5 million to more than 33 million,” said McDonough. “Meeting the task of vaccinating this expanded population will be a tremendous undertaking for the VA and will require a significant increase in our allocation of vaccine supply, but I am confident that VA’s workforce is up to the task.”

The ability to deliver the vaccine depends on a readily available supply and requires the VA to continue to prioritize vaccinations and health care delivery for veterans already enrolled in VA health care.

 

Learn more online

Veterans, their caregivers, and veteran spouses and beneficiaries who may qualify under the legislation can get more information about COVID-19 vaccines at the VA by visiting va.gov/health-care/covid-19-vaccine. More information regarding veterans and the COVID-19 pandemic can also be found at dav.org/covid.