LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On Wednesday, the Robley Rex Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) in Louisville opened a COVID-19 vaccine drive-thru site to start vaccinating high-risk veterans.

First in line was Louisville resident Floyd Foreman, who said he served in the army just over two years. The 94-year-old said it felt just like getting a flu shot.

“I would invite everyone to get it if they can. I wouldn’t want to be out here without it,” he said.

One-by-one vehicles rolled through the tent set-up in the parking lot for veterans who had been selected to get their first of two doses of the Moderna vaccine.

The VAMC reached out to them to make the appointment because not every veteran qualifies right now. In a press release, VAMC said veterans identified to be at highest risk, age 75 and older, or those residing in congregate living are being contacted by staff to schedule an appointment, as outlined in the VA’s COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Plan. 

The 30 veterans vaccinated Wednesday served as a test-run of the drive-thru site. The number will ramp up from there with a total of 160 veterans expected to be vaccinated by the end of the week. 

VAMC Medical Center Director Stephen Black said the highest priority is not wasting a single drop of the vaccine, given its need for cold storage and then the short window to give the vaccine after its thawed. He said the VAMC has already vaccinated 60 percent of its staff with the 2,500 Moderna vaccine doses it has received.

“These veterans deserve every single drop we have. We want to make sure we don’t waste any, and that’s why we’re starting off slowly, but we are quick learners so we pride ourselves in being a learning organization, and so this will ramp up pretty quickly, and then it will be based on what we are allocated, but we think we are going to be able to move through this really quickly once we get our processes right in the next couple days,” Black said.

Black also said VAMC had reached out to 3,000 veterans so far about being vaccinated and about 60 percent have said yes on the first call.

82-year old LD Varner who served in Vietnam said he got the call a month ago. Now, he feels thankful.

“It’s just the smart thing to do. If you don’t take advantage of what’s available, shame on you,” the Oldham County resident said.

His wife Virginia Varner of 20 years said the drive-thru site is making history.

“And I do know with him having COPD that it [COVID-19] would kill him, and this takes a big stress off of me that I’m not going to come home from Kroger that with the germs and pass it to him,” she said.

Veterans that received the Moderna vaccine on Wednesday will return in 28 days for the booster shot. 

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, if you’re eligible to get a vaccine, your VA health care team will contact you. You don’t need to reserve a vaccine or go to a VA facility to request or receive a vaccine until you are contacted.

However, you can let the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs know your interest in getting the vaccine, and the department will also let you know when you can get your vaccine if you want one. Sign-up for more information here.