REVERE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The VFW in Revere was hopping on Saturday with about 200 veterans getting vaccinated for Covid-19, along with their spouses and caregivers.
The one-day clinic was organized by the Offices of Veterans’ Services in Somerville and Revere, who teamed up with the VA Boston Healthcare System for the effort.
According to Grace Conley, a nurse with the VA Boston Healthcare System, it was the their first pop-up vaccination clinic since the Save Lives Act was passed -- a bill that expands vaccine access to veterans, their spouses and caregivers.
"They served us so it’s our turn to serve them," Conley said. "And we want to make sure that we break down every possible barrier -- so they don’t even have to make an appointment, we don’t even have to know they’re coming, they can just show up.”
Dan Drennan, who served in Afghanistan, received his shot at the clinic.
“I woke up this morning to every veteran in this state that I know texting me and saying 'hey the VFW in Revere is doing a vaccine site for vets today so get up there, do it’ and I was like 'alright, roger,'” Drennan said.
He added that the experience of getting the shot reminded him of his time in the military.
“First day in the army – walk through a line kind of like we had here – and [it's] both sleeves up, just getting shot from both sides, so this one wasn’t bad compared to that I guess," he said.
Marc Silvestri, the Director of Veteran's Services in Revere, said his city is the first to make use of the Save Lives Act and expand vaccine access to those who have served.
“It's actually an exciting, exciting moment – all the veterans bringing their spouses and caretakers in and expanding that vaccination to them is making a world of difference,” he said.
The veterans who received their vaccine at the clinic will return to the VFW on April 24 to receive their second dose.
After Saturday's event, the next vaccine clinic for veterans will open at the Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Brockton.
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausaville) reports.
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Written by Rachel Armany
(Photo: Suzanne Sausville/WBZ NewsRadio)