Skip to main content

Military Health System

Test of Sitewide Banner

This is a test of the sitewide banner capability. In the case of an emergency, site visitors would be able to visit the news page for addition information.

Ask the Doc: COVID Courageous

Image of Spc. Andrew Buchtan, 1-4 Infantry Regiment medic, vaccinates Command Sgt. Maj. Deondre Long, Battalion Command Sergeant Major of 1-4 Infantry Regiment. Long said “I got the vaccination shot today because I did not want my leadership style to change. I am an engaged leader. The shot will enable me to develop a better relationship with my soldiers. It will help better interact with them without a standoffish leadership.” (US Army photo by Sgt. Julian Padua). Spc. Andrew Buchtan, 1-4 Infantry Regiment medic, vaccinates Command Sgt. Maj. Deondre Long, Battalion Command Sergeant Major of 1-4 Infantry Regiment. Long said “I got the vaccination shot today because I did not want my leadership style to change. I am an engaged leader. The shot will enable me to develop a better relationship with my soldiers. It will help better interact with them without a standoffish leadership.” (US Army photo by Sgt. Julian Padua).

Dear Doc: I was afraid about getting my COVID vaccine at first and even entertained the thought of not getting it at all, but now that most of my friends and coworkers have gotten their first dose and some have even gotten their second, I think I'm ready. It seems pretty safe. That being said, now I need to know what I'm supposed to do to get it done. My wife wants to get hers as well but isn't sure how to go about doing it as a dependent. Is there a difference? Are there different ways of getting an appointment? What do we have to do? Any help would be much appreciated.

COVID Courageous 

Illustration of a female face with the words "Ask the Doc"

Dear Courageous: Depending on where you are, there are different ways of going about getting yourself and your wife set up for vaccination appointments. Luckily, we’ve got people here who can help you out! I talked to Air Force Lt. Col. Regina Tow, Project Manager for Defense Health Agency COVID-19 Vaccine Information Technology Planning and here's what she had to say about getting in to get vaccinated:


At most of our DOD vaccination sites you’ll need to book an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine. There are several tools to help with this process. Some sites are using TRICARE Online (TOL), a select few are using the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal, many are using the new DHA Appointing Portal (DAP) and some of the smaller locations have a number listed to call for an appointment.

To make it easier on everyone, we set up a website with information on the DOD vaccination sites and their preferred methods of scheduling appointments. Whether you are a military member, a family member or any other eligible and authorized DOD beneficiary, you can get the COVID-19 vaccine at our DOD vaccination sites. When you’re ready to make an appointment, I recommend you visit the COVID-19 Department of Defense Vaccine Appointments webpage to see what appointment tools your local military hospital, clinic or DOD vaccination site is using. If you live outside of the U.S., I encourage you to visit the overseas COVID-19 vaccine appointments page. All beneficiaries can use either of these webpages to make their COVID-19 vaccine appointments, for both first and second doses, as applicable.

In some cases, DOD vaccination sites may not be listed. If you don’t see your location you should contact your military hospital, clinic or DOD vaccination site directly to find out about their vaccination process. You can click on the following link to find the webpage for your chosen military hospital or clinic.

Our military hospitals and clinics are doing their best to make COVID-19 appointments available for all eligible and authorized TRICARE beneficiaries as vaccine supply increases. In some cases, you may need to check in regularly with your military hospital or clinic to learn when new appointments will be posted.

If a military hospital, clinic, or DOD vaccination site isn’t an option for you, or you don’t want to wait for an appointment, you have other options for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. To find your other local options, go to here to see what is available in your area.

The COVID-19 vaccine is free, but there may be a cost based on your health plan if you receive the vaccine during an office visit with a provider, or if you need follow-on care. If you have any additional questions, or concerns about possible costs, reach out to your TRICARE contractor for more information. Additionally, active-duty service members in the U.S. or a U.S. territory no longer need a referral or authorization to get the COVID-19 vaccine outside of the Military Health System. Just remember, if you do receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a non-military facility, please bring your documentation in to your assigned military medical treatment facility to ensure your immunization records are updated.

Even after you are vaccinated, we hope you will keep doing your part to slow the spread of COVID-19. Help us by continuing to follow the CDC’s recommendations. Doing so will protect your health and those around you.


Courageous, This should help you get out there and get vaccinated, no matter where you are. Explore the options that are open to you and your family and decide from there. Like Lt. Col. Tow explained, there are plenty of options and plenty of tools to help you find what works best for you.

And I think I can speak for everyone here at DHA when I say, “Thank you,” for making the choice to get vaccinated.

As always…take care out there!

–Doc


You also may be interested in...

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine at Civilian Pharmacies

Publication
3/9/2021

YOU CAN GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE FROM ANY CIVILIAN PHARMACY AT NO CHARGE, EVEN NON-NETWORK PHARMACIES, BUT HERE ARE SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND.

Access to COVID-19 Vaccine for Members of the Selected Reserve (SELRES)

Publication
3/2/2021

COVID-19 Social Media Toolkit

Publication
1/5/2021

These messages are provided for you to use on your platforms with any of the images from the COVID-19 Toolkit.

DoD COVID 19 Vaccine Distribution Plan and Population Schema

Publication
12/10/2020

Regarding the initial COVID-19 vaccination rollout, Defense Department officials announced a phased and coordinated strategic plan for distributing and administering the initial COVID-19 vaccines.

Holiday Season Guidance to Minimize Spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019

Publication
11/16/2020

This memorandum provides guidance to help protect individuals within the DoD community from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for gatherings and activities during the November to January holiday season.

Updated Guidance for Performing Temperature Checks at Military MTFs and DTFs

Publication
10/21/2020

This guidance is an update to Defense Health Agency Return to Full Operations Concept of Operations, V5.0 (June 12, 2020) as it pertains to temperature checks in MTFs and DTFs. Based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), previous guidance directed MTFs to take the temperature of all individuals entering the facility. Effective immediately, temperature checks are not required; however, screening of individuals entering MTFs and DTFs and healthcare personnel on duty in the MTF or DTF is to continue.

Force Health Protection Guidance (Supplement 12) -Department of Defense Guidance for Personnel Traveling During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Publication
8/6/2020

This memorandum supplements requirements in references (a), (b), and (c) with respect to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and replaces reference (d). It provides pre- and post­travel guidance for purposes of force health protection (FHP) of Service members, DoD family members, DoD civilian employees, and DoD contractor personnel.

Supplemental Guidance 10 for Military Medical Treatment Facilities and Military Dental Treatment Facilities Directors in regards to Coronavirus Disease 2019

Publication
7/1/2020

Communication to ABA Providers Regarding Continued Temporary Authorization to Utilize Telehealth for CPT Code 97156 During the COVID-19 National Emergency

Publication
6/3/2020

TRICARE is announcing the continuation of the temporary exception to policy regarding the use of synchronous telehealth (TH) capabilities (both audio and video) for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Family Adaptive Behavior Treatment Guidance services specifically during this COVID-19 pandemic.

Force Health Protection Guidance (Supplement 9) -Department of Defense Guidance for Deployment and Redeployment of Individuals and Units during the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Publication
5/26/2020

This memorandum provides force health protection (FHP) deployment and redeployment guidance for Service members (including Reserve Component (RC) and National Guard members in a title 10 or title 32 duty status) and DoD civilian employees deploying within and outside the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, consistent with references (a) and (b).

Guidance for Commanders on Risk-Based Changing of Health Protection Condition Levels During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

Publication
5/20/2020

This memorandum provides guidance for commanders to consider when making decisions to change health protection condition (HPCON) levels as COVID-19 pandemic conditions on and adjacent to our installations begin to improve.

Resuming Elective Surgical, Invasive, and Dental Procedures in Military Medical and Dental Treatment Facilities

Publication
5/19/2020

This memorandum provides guidance on how each Military Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) and Dental Treatment Facility (DTF) may resume elective medical and dental procedures.

Modification and Reissuance of DoD Response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 -Travel Restrictions

Publication
4/20/2020

All DoD Service members will stop movement, both internationally and domestically, while this memorandum is in effect. All DoD civilian personnel, and dependents of DoD Service members and DoD civilian personnel, whose travel is Government-funded will stop movement, both internationally and domestically, while this memorandum is in effect.

Implementation Guidance for Presidential Memorandum, "Providing Federal Support for Governor's Use of the National Guard to Respond to COVID-19 ," Dated April 7, 2020

Publication
4/14/2020

Benefits Eligibility for 32 USC 502(f) Missions

Publication
4/14/2020

A chart outlining the various Benefits Eligibility for 32 USC 502(f) Missions

Page 1 of 2 , showing items 1 - 15
First < 1 2 > Last 
Refine your search
Last Updated: May 04, 2023
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery