{"id":66651,"date":"2022-12-15T22:31:31","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T22:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/12\/15\/surgeon-general-urges-vets-to-get-updated-covid-vaccine-now\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T14:42:56","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T14:42:56","slug":"surgeon-general-urges-vets-to-get-updated-covid-vaccine-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/veterans\/2022\/12\/15\/surgeon-general-urges-vets-to-get-updated-covid-vaccine-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Surgeon general urges vets to get updated COVID vaccine now"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Veterans Affairs officials partnered with the surgeon general Thursday to urge health staff to keep up their push to get patients vaccinated<\/a> against COVID-19<\/a>, amid rising cases of the virus and lagging participation among veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a call with medical directors and providers across the country Thursday, Vice Adm. (Dr.) Vivek Murthy<\/a>, who oversees the U.S. Public Health Service, said the country is in \u201csuch a better place\u201d with the virus than in recent years. But he also cautioned that coronavirus remains a threat, and said health care officials need to reinforce that message to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are millions who are eligible for the [newest] vaccine and who have not yet received it,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m particularly concerned about the elderly and those who are at higher risk because of other medical conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we look at the people who are dying from COVID-19, they predominantly tend to be those who are older. \u2026 So this makes it all the more important for our elderly patients that we reach out to ensure they get the updated vaccine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t