Truman VA: Updated Vaccination/Visitation Information

November 03, 2021

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital currently offers several options for COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations. The medical center’s inpatient visitation policy also has been updated.

COVID-19 Vaccinations:

In addition to receiving a first and second dose of regular COVID-19 vaccine, third dose and booster shots also are available at Truman VA. Third dose and booster shots of the Pfizer and Janssen vaccines are available at the main hospital, located at 800 Hospital Drive, Columbia, Missouri. Either Moderna and/or Janssen third dose and booster shots are available at Truman VA’s eight community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs).

Those who are eligible for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine are Veterans who receive VA health care, their spouses, and Veteran caregivers who are at least 18 years old and have an underlying medical condition that makes them more susceptible to COVID. Booster shots are available to Veterans who receive VA health care, their spouses and Veteran caregivers who have been fully vaccinated for at least six months and are 65 or older, or who are at least 18 years old and work in high-risk settings such as health care, law enforcement, manufacturing, public transportation, and more.

Third dose and booster shots are available on a walk-in basis or by appointment at Truman VA, and by appointment only at Truman VA’s CBOCs. Veterans who receive VA health care can make an appointment by calling their primary care provider, or they, their spouse and/or caregiver can receive a third dose or booster on a walk-in basis at Truman VA by checking in at the hospital’s Patient Education Center from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (except on federal holidays) at 800 Hospital Drive, Columbia, Missouri.

Influenza Vaccinations:

Veterans who receive their health care through VA may also be vaccinated against influenza either by appointment or through Truman VA’s drive-through flu shot clinic. To make an appointment for an influenza vaccination, Veterans who receive VA health care should contact their primary care provider. Without an appointment, enrolled Veterans may utilize Truman VA’s drive-through flu shot clinic, which is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday (expect on federal holidays) and is located in the south section of the first floor of Truman VA’s patient and visitor parking garage, at 800 Hospital Drive, Columbia, Missouri.

Visiting a Patient:

Family and friends of inpatient Veterans at Truman VA may visit from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday. However, resident visitation currently is not available on Truman VA’s Community Living Center (CLC), the hospital’s long-term nursing care facility. The ability to visit residents of the CLC, as well as possible future visiting hours, will fluctuate as needed to protect our most vulnerable Veterans.

Truman VA inpatient Veterans may receive one visitor at a time in their room during designated visiting hours. Visitors will be screened when entering the facility for signs of any communicable illness. To protect our Veterans and staff, if a visitor has symptoms such as (but not limited to) fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, nausea, or vomiting, the visitor may not enter the facility.