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Operational Unit COVID Testing (CAC Required)
 MHS GENESIS is now LIVE at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth and its Clinics

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

COVID-19 Information

Call Center   |  Testing   |  Immunizations   |   Boosters   |   Dosage information  |   Pregnancy   |   Immunizations Forms   |  OCONUS Travel  |  FAQs

COVID Call Center

Over the past year we have seen a very positive movement in the battle over the COVID-19 virus. There has been a significant decrease in local transmission rates, and the demand for urgent care has gone down enough that we have been able to make changes in our approach to combatting the virus.
 
The COVID Vaccine and boosters have become a part of our daily routine, we have widened the age groups of patients that can receive the vaccine, and we now provide self-test kits to beneficiaries who need to get tested for COVID.
 
However, if you still need information about COVID-19 and your healthcare needs, the NMCP COVID Call Center is here to assist. 

Call 1-757-953-6200 to: 

  • Schedule an appointment with your primary care provider if you have COVID-19 related symptoms
  • Get COVID-19 vaccine information
  • Get COVID-19, self-test kits, or to arrange a test for operational or official travel
  • Or if you just need to talk to someone about COVID-19 or COVID Symptoms

COVID-19 Testing

January 20

 

If you are experiencing any of the following severe
symptoms, please report to the nearest
Emergency Room or dial 911:

• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain

Emergency Rooms are intended for TRUE MEDICAL
EMERGENCIES. Please do NOT report to the Emergency Room
for mild to moderate respiratory symptoms or routine COVID
testing (i.e. mild symptoms, positive contacts, or travel).

If you are experiencing symptoms of mild to moderate
respiratory symptoms, we recommend the following:

• Self-test
• Stay home
• Drink fluids to ensure appropriate hydration
• Manage mild symptoms with over-the-counter medications

If your symptoms do not improve or require professional medical
evaluation, please contact your
Primary Care Manager (PCM) at 1-866-645-4584 or the
Nurse Advice Line (NAL) at 1-800-874-2273, and select option #1.

Self Test Kits

NMCP and its Branch Health Clinics do not offer routine, on-site, COVID testing. Self- test kits are available to any of our beneficiaries at these locations: 
 

  • NMCP Immunizations Clinic:

    • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

    • Thursday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  • Boone BHC Lab:

    • Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  • Norfolk BHC Lab:

    • Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  • Oceana BHC Lab:

    • Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

COVID Testing for Official Travel

Appointments no longer being required for testing. Please walk in to any one of our testing locations.

  • NMCP Travel Clinic, Bldg. 3, 1st floor    

    • Monday – Friday: 7:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.

  • NMCP Immunizations Clinic, Bldg. 2, 2nd floor

    • Saturday: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.

  • Norfolk Branch Health Clinic - front desk

    • Monday-Friday: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.

COVID Testing for Operational Units

Go to https://esportal.med.navy.mil/nmcp/apps/COVID-19-OUTR/pages/covid-19-outr.aspx and follow the instructions, (CAC Required)

 

 ** TRICARE Coverage of COVID-19 Testing **

The White House announced the government will  requires private insurance companies to reimburse people for the cost of at-home test kits. However, this does not apply to TRICARE beneficiaries. The Presidential Executive order applies to group health plans and private insurance companies, of which, TRICARE is neither. Any change to authorize non-medically necessary testing under TRICARE is required to come from Congress. TRICARE covers COVID-19 tests ordered by a TRICARE-authorized provider or a provider at a military hospital or clinic.
 
 Requirements for TRICARE covered COVID testing:
  • The test must be FDA-approved;
  • The test must be medically necessary;
  • The test must be ordered by a TRICARE authorized provider.
TRICARE does NOT cover COVID testing for:
  • An asymptomatic beneficiary who just wants to know if they may have had COVID-19;
  • To determine an employee’s ability to return to work;
  • To determine a student’s ability to return to school;
  • Personal/leisure travel.
Be sure to follow TRICARE requirements for COVID-19 testing to avoid paying out-of-pocket.
TRICARE for Life beneficiaries should follow Medicare rules for COVID-19 testing.
 
For additional information regarding TRICARE coverage of COVID-19 testing, please visit https://www.tricare.mil/HealthWellness/HealthyLiving/Coronavirus/Coronavirus-Testing

COVID-19 Immunizations


COVID vaccines are available at the following immunization clinics:

  
• NMCP
     o Walk-in hours:
          - Mon, Tues, Wed, & Fri - 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
          - Thursday - 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• BHC Norfolk
     o Walk-in hours:
         - Monday - Friday - 7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
          
• BHC Oceana
     o Walk-in hours:
          - Monday - Friday - 7:30 - 10:30 a.m.

• BHC Boone (Little Creek)
    o Walk-in hours:
          - Monday - Friday - 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. & 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. 
         

Or book your appointment by contacting the Defense Health Agency Appointing Portal at https://informatics-stage.health.mil/COVAX, choose Virginia, and follow the prompts to pick a time and date. You can also find civilian locations nearest you by visiting https://www.vaccines.gov/search/.

 

COVID-19 Immunization Dose Information

Second dose

Following CDC guidelines, the second dose should be administered at least three weeks after receiving the initial dose. While second dose should be given at three weeks, if it is not feasible to adhere to the recommended interval, the second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may be scheduled for administration up to six weeks (42 days) after the first dose.

Third Dose

**FOR MODERATE TO SEVERE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS ONLY**
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) is administering the third dose of the COVID vaccine for active duty, retirees and dependents who fall into the moderate to severe immunocompromised category ONLY, and after 28 days or more since the second dose.
According to the CDC, being moderately to severely immunocompromised means that you have:

* Been receiving active cancer treatment for solid tumors or cancers of the blood
* Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
* Received a stem cell transplant within the last two years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system
* Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
* Advanced or untreated HIV infection
* Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress your immune response
Please see the CDC Immunocompromised website for more information. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/immuno.html
If you have questions on whether you fall into the MODERATE OR SEVERE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED category, please contact your physician.

The Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommends you receive the same brand of mRNA vaccine as your first two doses. NMCP only provides third doses for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

 

Booster Shots

COVID-19 BOOSTER UPDATE – May 23


As COVID-19 rates pick up again, NMCP continues to focus on keeping our beneficiaries healthy and safe.  Keeping up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination is a great way to avoid severe COVID-19 and long COVID.  Everyone over age 5 should get one booster after their primary series and those with risk factors should get a second booster.  Please see details below.  However, if you’d rather just come to one of our immunizations clinics, our staff can help you determine if you are due for a booster (bring any records for shots administered outside our system)!
 
Updates!

  • On May 17, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, authorizing the use of a single booster dose for children ages 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completion of a primary series with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

  • On May 19, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) and CDC expanded eligibility of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses to everyone 5 years of age and older. CDC recommendations now say that everyone, including children ages 5 through 11 years SHOULD receive a booster shot 5 months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series.

Since the pandemic began, more than 4.8 million children ages 5 through 11 have been diagnosed with COVID-19, 15,000 have been hospitalized and, tragically, over 180 have died. As cases increase across the country, a booster dose will safely help restore and enhance protection against severe disease.
 

  • In addition, CDC has strengthened its recommendation for a second booster dose.  Everyone age 50 and over SHOULD get a second booster at least 4 months after their first booster.  Those 12 and older who are immunocompromised SHOULD also receive a second booster dose at least 4 months after their first. 

Over the past month we have seen steady increases in cases, with a steep and substantial increase in hospitalizations for older Americans. While older Americans have the highest coverage of any age group of first booster doses, MOST older Americans received their last dose (either their primary series or their first booster dose) many months ago, leaving many who are vulnerable without the protection they may need to prevent severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
 

  • NMCP only provides the Pfizer vaccine for booster shots. The CDC has authorized the Pfizer vaccine as a booster for any initial Moderna (now marketed as Spikevax) or Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine series.

  • Boosters are available for beneficiaries that received their primary series of Pfizer (ages 5 and older) or Moderna/Spikevax (ages 18 and older) 5 or more months ago. 

  • A 2nd booster dose is available 4 months after the 1st booster for beneficiaries ages 50 and older, along with immunocompromised beneficiaries ages 12 and older.

  • If you received the J&J immunization (ages 18 and older) you may receive a booster dose after 2 months.


 

Whether it is your first booster, or your second, if you haven’t had a vaccine dose since the beginning of December 2021 and you are eligible, now is the time to get one! 


COVID-19 Immunizations Form

Prior to receiving your your COVID-19 Vaccine you will be required to fill out a COVID-19 Screening Form. Please print the form, fill out items 1 through 6, and bring it with you.

www.health.mil/DHAForm207 - Screening Form 12-years and older
www.health.mil/DHAForm236 - Screening Form 7-11 Years Old

Pfizer Vaccine Fact Sheet

OCONUS Travel

DOD has set rules for DOD personnel travelling to OCONUS locations for PCS or other business. 

All OCONUS Travelers are required to have a negative viral COVID-19 test administered within 72hr of embarkation of flight.

  • If destination location requires a specific test, timing or test result format – travelers must follow the most restrictive requirement prior to embarkation.

Please note: those traveling to HAWAII, will need to follow the guidance provided by the State of Hawaii at https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/.

  • ​NMCP is not listed as an approved lab to complete the COVID-19 testing prior to travel.

Tricare does not fund testing for official travel

  • Using the Government Travel Card to pay for fees related to testing is encouraged

  • Travelers should be prepared to pay for tests and request reimbursement via travel claim 

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Have I Been Fully Vaccinated?

A: People are considered Fully Vaccinated:

2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines

Or

2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson's Janssen vaccine

If you don't meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT Fully Vaccinated.

Q: What is close-contact?

A: Close contact includes: living with a person who has COVID-19, providing care for a person who has COVID-19 without proper PPE, being within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for a cumulative 15 minutes or more over 24 hrs., or having exposure to respiratory secretions from a person with COVID-19 without proper PPE (e.g., being coughed or sneezed on, sharing a drinking glass or utensils, kissing)



TRICARE FAQs
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) FAQs 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) FAQs

Don't forget to keep your family's information up-to-date in DEERS.