Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

COVID-19 Information

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

COVID Call Center

For information about the COVID-19 Vaccinations, Testing, or Symptoms call 757-953-6200.

COVID-19 Testing

Testing Appointments -- Call 757-953-6200

 

NMCP Testing times are
Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 


 

To get the results for tests conducted at NMCP please go to www.tricareonline.com.
 

Testing Hours at the clinics at Norfolk, JEB Little Creek, and Oceana
No Appointment Needed
 

Branch Health Clinic Naval Station Norfolk

7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday

-Walk-in line only

Branch Health Clinic Oceana

7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday

-Drive Thru only

ADM Joel T. Boone Branch Health Clinic

7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Monday through Friday

-Walk-ins and Drive Thru

** COVID-19 TEST RESULTS **

Due to the continued high demand for testing, results are taking longer than usual to return.  Be advised, test results may take up to 7 days. 
To obtain your results:
  • Select the appropriate family member.
  • Click on “Health Record” to view lab results.
Please do not call the call-center for your results as they are not able to provide results at this time.
We appreciate your patience and understanding.
 

 ** TRICARE Coverage of COVID-19 Testing **

The increase in positive COVID cases across the nation has directly impacted the demand for testing. Many people have found the process of securing testing a challenge and have turned to at-home testing.
The White House announced the government will soon require 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

For non-symptomatic Active Duty Group Testing, go to http://esportal.med.navy.mil/nmcp/apps/COVID-19-OUTR/pages/covid-19-outr.aspx  (CAC Card Required)

At-Home Tests

*UPDATE* May 23, 8:00 a.m.

COVID-19 at-home test kits are only available for pick up at the NMCP Branch Health Clinics in Norfolk, Oceana, and Little Creek. The NMCP test tent and main pharmacy no longer provide at-home kits.

The at-home test kits are available to NMCP beneficiaries with a military ID card Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Test kits are available on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last.
 

 

COVID-19 Immunizations



PEDIATRIC COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE

Throughout our local region, COVID cases are on the rise. Fortunately, the FDA has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years.

On June 18, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation that all children 6 months through 5 years of age should receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

On June 27, NMCP will begin providing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for our younger pediatric population. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, for ages 6 months to 5 years, will be a 3-dose series with the 2nd dose scheduled for three weeks after the initial dose, and the 3rd dose scheduled for 8 weeks after the 2nd dose.

If you have questions regarding COVID vaccines for this pediatric age group, please reach out to your pediatrician and/or primary care provider.

 

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.

Pfizer Vaccine Fact Sheet
Click here for instructions

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.