US Navy veteran who served on nuclear sub receives 10,000th dose given by the El Paso VA

Miguel Licon, a 62-year-old Navy veteran and El Paso native, received the 10,000th dose of the COVID-19 vaccine given to the community by the El Paso VA Health Care System.

After getting the shot, Licon said to the nurse who administered the vaccine, “thank you for all that you do for us.”

The Navy Veteran who served aboard the first nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS Enterprise, received Monday the 10,000 Moderna COVID-19 dose given at the El Paso VA Medical Center.

“This is a very exciting day for our staff,” Blanca Aragon, Associate Director of Patient Care Services and Nurse Executive for the El Paso VA Health Care System, said in a statement. “Since Jan. 7 when we vaccinated our first patient, our nurses and providers have worked tirelessly each week, putting in extra hours in the evenings and even working weekends to help accommodate our Veterans who qualify for the vaccination get it and ensure that no vaccinations we receive go to waste.”

The El Paso VA has vaccinated thousands of veterans, VA employees, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security personnel, officials said.

“At least 120 vaccinations are administered daily during normal business hours Monday through Friday,” Aragon said. “During our Saturday clinic events we inoculate 500 Veterans each time.”

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The El Paso VA as part of it’s Home-Based Primary Care program also have administered vaccines at the homes of veterans not medically cleared to travel to the medical center.

The El Paso VA Health Care System serves nearly 40,000 patients who live in Southwest Texas, Doña Ana County, New Mexico and Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua.

Veterans enrolled with the VA system who are 50 years old and older and eligible caregivers are being vaccinated now, VA officials said.

Veterans who qualify are being contacted by VA staff to schedule a vaccine appointment.

Any veterans who may have missed their vaccine call should reach out to the VA at 915-564-6100 and select option #2.

Aaron Martinez may be reached at 915-546-6249; aamartinez@elpasotimes.com; @AMartinezEPT on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: US Navy veteran who served on nuclear sub receives 10,000th dose given by the El Paso VA

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