COVID-19 vaccinations begin at Milwaukee VA Medical Center COVID-19 vaccinations begin at Milwaukee VA Medical Center The VA and other hospitals are only just beginning to dole out thousands of doses of the first shipment of vaccinations in the area. MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee VA Medical Center gave its first COVID-19 vaccine dose to a nurse working on the pandemic's front lines Wednesday, Dec. 16. The staff members who volunteered to be first in line for the vaccine said they have seen firsthand, on many occasions, the effects of COVID-19 on patients. They have experienced a lot of loss, but Wednesday they said they feel hope.