VA Northern California Health Care System

Message from the Director: Why I chose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine I got the COVID-19 vaccine for my health, for my family’s safety, for your health and safety, for the veterans we serve, and to demonstrate my trust in the science and safety of the vaccine. As many of you know, I am a Type 1 Diabetic and at greater risk for complications related to COVID-19. I am also present at a hospital each day that is actively treating COVID patients, and then returning home to my... family each night. I also have family that lives in Europe, with a new grandchild on the way. Each of us has loved ones that may be impacted by the work we do, or travel restrictions that prevent us from seeing loved ones, or personal health concerns that have followed us into this past year of world-wide pandemic. I do, too, and for those reasons, I chose to get the vaccine. Let’s protect each other, our patients, and our families. #covidvacccine #covidvaccineadvocate #veterans

Can you have your cake and eat it to? Yes, you can! Learn how to make your favorite holiday desserts healthier without sacrificing taste or tradition. Speak to your VA Dietitian for more tips. https://bddy.me/3rc3Uri

Moderna’s #COVIDvaccine has arrived at 113 VA facilities. VA will contact Veterans directly when they can receive the vaccine. Sign up for info at https://bit.ly/3mZEv0P

Message from VA Secretary Robert Wilkie: This week, VA announced the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine distribution to an initial 37 VA locations. I’ve been moni...toring the first doses to VA’s frontline staff and high risk Veteran patients and am proud to share images of the great work being done at VA around the country. See more

Chico CBOC receives their first supply of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. LVN Tom Witherspoon vaccinating Darlena Christian, Dr. Robert Rist, and Barbara Pilgram. #CovidVaccine #covidvax #covidvaccinated

Having healthy ways to manage stress is more important now than ever. Check out these useful tips on managing stress during difficulty times without involving food. #VANutrtition https://bddy.me/3rcCJwv

Happy Early Veterans Day from VA Northern California Health Care System. Veterans are our mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, neighbors, friends and colleagues. At VA NorCal, we work with Veterans who come from many different backgrounds, states and countries, belief systems, ethnicities, and walks of life. We understand that every Veteran’s transition back into civilian life is unique. Some Veterans require little support when they leave the military..., while others can struggle to reintegrate back into civilian life, which can seem chaotic at times in comparison to the structured military life. Video: https://bddy.me/32tKvYp Read more: https://bddy.me/38mMYaK

COVID-19 vaccine arriving in Redding CBOC with Ernie Perez delivering vaccines to Antone Rhett. Employee and Veteran Mike Anjola the first COVID-19 vaccine in Redding CBOC, followed by Dr. Rebecca Neill, DDS who was a Captain in the Naval Reserves. #Redding #covidvaccinated #covidvax #CovidVaccine

Update to Travis AFB HPCON Charlie: 12/17/2020 The Travis Air Force Base installation commander implemented Health Protection Condition (HPCON) CHARLIE. This is a substantial public health alert in response to the increase spread of COVID-19 in the community.... This decision may impact Veterans traveling to VA Northern California Health Care System's Community-Based Outpatient Clinic located on Travis Air Force Base. The hospital gate will remain open until further notice. We advise all patients to plan for potentially longer queues of traffic and additional security in place. Find out more: https://bit.ly/37ubR3y

Happy Veterans Day from VA Northern California Health Care System. Veterans are our mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, neighbors, friends and colleagues. At VA NorCal, we work with Veterans who come from many different backgrounds, states and countries, belief systems, ethnicities, and walks of life. We understand that every Veteran’s transition back into civilian life is unique. Some Veterans require little support when they leave the military, whil...e others can struggle to reintegrate back into civilian life, which can seem chaotic at times in comparison to the structured military life. Video: https://bddy.me/35lqwgj Read the full story: https://bddy.me/3lmKQ6w

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is alerting Veterans to the possibility of scammers promising access to the new COVID-19 vaccines. Some of these individuals or companies may ask for sensitive personal information or money. They may sell false treatments that claim to cure or prevent COVID-19. VA will contact Veterans as they become eligible for vaccines during this initial period of limited vaccine supply. VA will reach out through regular VA channels, such as Ve...tText, MyHealtheVet, VA email or other channels. A care team member may also contact Veterans by phone, text or email. If you are not sure whether the care team member contacting you is a VA employee, you can confirm that the care team member is legitimate if you recognize the number or email address or by asking for a call back number and confirming that the caller works at the VA facility where they say they work. The Better Business Bureau offers information on what to expect from scammers and how to spot a coronavirus vaccine con. Double check any information about the vaccine with official news sources and be aware that none of the vaccines can be currently purchased online or in stores. https://bddy.me/2WTSbQl

#VBATribute | U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran Lee Woodson served as a Military Police Officer in the Army. He received his airborne training at Fort Benning, GA, and served in the Fort Bragg Special Forces unit. Woodson deployed to Vietnam in 1967, where he was a platoon leader and then Executive Officer (XO) of a Military Police (MP) company in Task Force Oregon and the Americal Division operations in Chu Lai. After his return stateside, he was posted to Fort Meade, MD, as the 14t...h MP Group XO. Vietnam was a guerrilla war, and he had the misfortune of being in Chu Lai on that fateful night of Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. He has many stories of incoming flares overhead. Listening to music from those years always takes him back, and the sound of helicopters always makes him feel alert as if he is suddenly back in the base camp. Woodson's military career ended in 1969 and was awarded 2 Commendation Medals for his service. Thank you for your service! See more

Are you celebrating Veterans Day already? Even though every day is Veterans Day at VA NorCal, we’re feeling more festive than usual the day before the official Veterans Day holiday. Thank you to UC Davis for sponsoring a Let Us Honor Veteran’s Day event at the Sacramento VA Medical Center. Our longtime volunteer and Army Veteran Maverick Franklin helped give out red, white, and blue carnation bouquets and Stars and Stripes cookies to our heroes who visited the medical center today. Thank you to the local schools and students who made the Veterans Day cards for our Veterans.

Federal tools to help maximize GI Bill education benefits Transitioning to civilian life takes research, planning and the right tools. One of the most powerful tools you have is the GI Bill . https://bddy.me/3mYhv20

Live Whole Health #49: Get moving from your chair As the temperatures drop and days get shorter, it may be time to think about different ways to get yourself moving. Chair yoga is a great way to move your body and tap into your breath. https://bddy.me/2J1WVA8

Easterseals resources for Veterans and their families Knowing every Veteran is different, Easterseals offers a variety of services for Veterans and military families at many of their 67 Affiliates nationwide. Any Veteran, regardless of age or whether or not they have a disability, is eligible for services through Easterseals. https://bddy.me/3nqpq9r

Happy Marine Corps Birthday! Share, like or comment if you served. #SemperFidelis

Please join VA Secretary Robert Wilkie at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 for the National Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony will be streamed on VA’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VeteransAffairs and also at https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/25131.

Moving again? VA offers military spouses job security, peace of mind https://bddy.me/3kdMZQF Via #VAntagePoint

Happy early birthday Marines! When PTSD ended his military career, Marine veteran Chad Robichaux fell back on his skills as a mixed martial artist. He fought in Strikeforce, @Bellator, and won HDNet’s Legacy FC belt, becoming a world champion MMA fighter. However, at the height of his MMA career, Chad was on the verge of suicide. After realizing that he needed a holistic approach to self-care instead of just focusing on fighting, he made the choice to seek help from his wif...e and found support in faith. Now, he strives to help other veterans discover the strength of a multifaceted approach to treating PTSD before they become statistics. LISTEN: https://bddy.me/3kfvaAv READ: https://bddy.me/3kjlEfM

VA honors caregivers of Veterans throughout November. Read more. https://bit.ly/3pbicaO

We are asking Veterans, their family members, VA employees and others to volunteer to participate in VA’s COVID-19 research. By signing up, you are under no obligation to participate in a study.

More career opportunities for Veterans, thanks to VR&E and DoL MOA https://bddy.me/35cfN7U Via #VAntagePoint

Today's #VBATribute honors U.S. Army Air Corp Veteran, Len Sparagowski. Sparagowski, his parents, and his 14 siblings escaped from Poland during the Nazi takeover during WW2. Hardly able to speak English, he volunteered with the Army Air Corps and became a tail-gunner on the B17 aircraft. He was deployed to war after he married Lillian Reding from Oklahoma. Sparagowski survived being badly wounded when he was shot in an air battle and ended up in a hospital in England. He was released from service and returned to his wife in Oklahoma and now celebrate over 75 years together as a couple. Sparagowski recently celebrated his 99th birthday with Lil, who is 96, on Sep 1st, 2020. Thank you for your service!

Plant-based diets are well known for their health benefits. Celebrate National Vegan Month by speaking to a VA dietitian about simple ways to include more plant-based foods into your healthy meal plan! #VANutrition https://bddy.me/38nfIAe

View the Together We Served National Veterans Roll of Honor containing over 2 million U.S. Military Service Histories from WWII to present.

During National Radiologic Technology Week, VA celebrates the diagnostic radiologic technicians who help Veterans lead longer, healthier lives.