A Houston veteran, Scottie Levias, has filed a lawsuit against the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, alleging that years of negligent medical treatment led to irreversible kidney damage and end-stage renal failure, requiring lifelong dialysis.

Dr. Edward Cathright is a dentist at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston.

The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is expanding COVID-19 vaccines for all veterans, their caregivers, spouses, and the CHAMPVA beneficiaries under the SAVE LIVES Act.

HOUSTON – The first doses of the coronavirus vaccine at Houston’s Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center are set to be administered on Wednesday. “We’re all very excited and we’re definitely ready to get rolling,” said Dr. Prathit Kulkarni, assistant chief of the medical care line. The hospital received just under 3,000 doses, which will first go to frontline workers helping COVID-19 patients and veterans in the long-term care facility called the community living center, he said. “Ultimately the plan will be to do all veterans and all staff, that’s the long-range ultimate goal,” Kulkarni said. The Houston facility expects to receive more shipments in the near future so people who get vaccinated now can receive the second dose in a couple of weeks.

HOUSTON – Houston’s Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center announced that it has been selected as one of 37 VA sites to receive initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The Houston VA was selected to vaccinate large numbers of people and store the vaccines at extremely cold temperatures. COVID-19 vaccine implementation will include an initial limited-supply phase followed by a general implementation phase when large supplies of the vaccine will be available to veterans who want to receive one. The VA said the ultimate goal is to offer it to all veterans and employees who want to be vaccinated. Veterans seeking additional information can visit the VA Coronavirus FAQs webpage or contact the VA health care team.

HOUSTON The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to hire dozens of temporary nurses in Houston, as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Irving said she has already brought on around 30 temporary nurses since March. They can be here on station in roughly four to five days, Irving said. Irving said she still needs fulltime nurses, but the temporary workers have a place too. Registered nurses must be licensed and free of any restrictions to work at the VA, Irving said.