Senator met with Phoenix VA, UPS distributor—discusses COVID-relief and her bipartisan work increasing vaccine access for veterans
PHOENIX – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema visited the Phoenix VA Medical Center to meet Arizona veterans, discuss the importance of COVID-19 vaccines for VA patients, and observe UPS’s role in delivering vaccines across Arizona. Sinema also highlighted her SAVE LIVES Act, signed into law on March 25th, which allows the VA to vaccinate more veterans, their spouses, and eligible caregivers and dependents as supply increases.
“We must continue expanding vaccine access for Arizona veterans, and their families and caregivers, to help keep those who sacrificed for our country safe and healthy,” said Sinema, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Sinema also met with the local leaders from UPS and the VA to discuss COVID-relief funding for increased vaccine distribution across Arizona, and how Sinema can continue to advocate for local communities as Arizona recovers from the pandemic.
In a recent call with the VA Secretary, Sinema stressed the need to vaccinate more veterans and ensure caregivers can get vaccinated at the same time as veterans.
Last week, Sinema’s bipartisan SAVE LIVES Act was signed into law. This bipartisan law allows the VA to provide no-cost COVID-19 vaccination services to all Arizona veterans, veteran spouses, and eligible caregivers and dependents as the vaccine supply grows.
Sinema has heard directly from Arizona veterans and caregivers about not being able to access vaccines from the VA. During a recent Senate hearing, Sinema addressed this specific issue with VA leaders and stressed the urgent need to ensure vaccines for Arizona veterans and caregivers—including those not actively enrolled in VA care.
Sinema continues working to get the coronavirus under control through her efforts securing additional vaccines for Arizona. In February, Sinema requested additional vaccine doses from the federal government for Arizona. Sinema is helping vaccination sites find more volunteers and has volunteered at sites herself. She continues to communicate Arizona’s needs to federal partners, Pfizer, Moderna, and the administration.
Click HERE for photos.