From: US Department of Veterans Affairs [email protected] Sent: Friday, August 20, 2021 3:55 PM To: US Department of Veterans Affairs [email protected] Subject: Recertified VHA Directive 1193 and Attestation Update from Dr. Steven Lieberman

MESSAGE FROM THE VHA OFFICE OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH August 20, 2021 Vaccine Attestation and Operations Update

Yesterday, Secretary McDonough sent a message to all employees asking every VA employee to attest to their vaccine status. This builds upon the Recertified VHA Directive 1193, which requires all VHA personnel who visit VHA facilities, work at VHA facilities or directly interact with and serve our Veterans to be vaccinated. It is also an important step in helping to ensure the health and safety of our Veterans and employees and is consistent with the guidance from the Biden Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force.

VHA employees will fall into one of four categories for attestation:

Fully vaccinated Received first dose of a two-dose vaccine Unvaccinated Choose not to say

Employees who have not been vaccinated or choose not to attest to being fully vaccinated will be required to comply with weekly COVID-19 testing, wear a mask, maintain feasible physical distancing and are subject to travel restrictions. Fully vaccinated colleagues will not be required to participate in a weekly testing program and travel will be at the discretion of their supervisors but not restricted due to vaccination status at this time.

The best way to take care of our Veterans, our colleagues and ourselves is to be vaccinated. You can find more information on Recertified VHA Directive 1193 and Safer Federal Workforce guidelines, to include the full attestation memorandum, here.

Last week, FDA took steps to protect the nation’s most vulnerable populations, authorizing a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine for people who are moderately to severely immunocompromised. VA is offering third doses based on FDA and CDC guidance and will contact those individuals identified as moderately to severely immunocompromised to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.

If you received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and are not sure if you have one of the specific medical conditions or have a similar level of immune compromise to the conditions listed, please ask your medical team before scheduling for an additional dose of vaccine. You can also check CDC guidance published in CDCs Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) and on the Interim Clinical Considerations for Use of COVID-19 Vaccines | CDC.

Lastly, I want to remind you that the Secretary and Deputy Secretary are hosting a live town hall on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET.

I recognize there is a lot of information coming in each day, and often it can be confusing. I want to assure you that we will continue to get information out to you as quickly as possible and in the clearest terms possible to help you navigate the pandemic.

Thank you to all who are working hard to vaccinate Veterans, employees and those who qualify under the SAVE LIVES Act as well as ensuring those who need it get their third dose!

Please stay safe and take care of each other.

Steven L. Lieberman, M.D. Deputy to the Deputy Under Secretary for Health Performing the Delegable Duties of Under Secretary for Health Employee Wellness Resources