KENNETT SQUARE, Pa., Dec. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Residents and healthcare workers at The Reservoir Center, a Genesis HealthCare- (NYSE:GEN) (Genesis or the Company) affiliated nursing home, became the first long-term care facility in Connecticut and among the first in the U.S. to receive the COVID-19 vaccination today. Genesis HealthCare is one of the nation’s largest providers of post-acute care.
“These vials of hope have arrived. Today is a historic day, and this vaccine is critical to our ability to end this pandemic,” Dr. Richard Feifer, Genesis’ chief medical officer said. “We are so grateful to the State of Connecticut and our selected pharmacy partner, CVS Health, for their support and collaboration in opening the door to a safer future. The example our frontline workers and residents have set today for our communities and our nation will help to build further trust in the vaccine, the most critical tool in our fight against COVID-19.”
“As a minority, I know I am setting a great example for the Black community,” said Sophia Walker, RN and Unit Manager, discussing what getting the vaccine meant to her.
The event, held outside the center in West Hartford, Connecticut, featured remarks by Jonathan Roberts Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer of CVS Health; Deidre S. Gifford, MD, MPH, Acting Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut Governor, Ned Lamont; Dr. Richard Feifer (MD, MPH, FACP), Chief Medical Officer of Genesis HealthCare; and Marnie Talamona, Regional Vice President of Operations--Connecticut, Genesis HealthCare. Comments were followed by vaccinations of Zac Mundakkal (Physical Therapist Assistant); Sophia Walker (Registered Nurse and Unit Manager); Craig Dumont (The Reservoir Center Executive Director); Frank Tirado (Housekeeper, The Reservoir Center and employee of Healthcare Services Group – a Genesis care partner); and Dr. Feifer.
Genesis is working closely with state governments to determine when vaccines will be available for all employees and residents at its facilities across the nation. As part of The Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program announced in October by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense, Genesis selected CVS Health Corp. as its pharmacy partner to provide and administer the vaccine in all states that are working with CVS or Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. for vaccine management.
Assets captured at today’s event will be made available to the media. If you are interested in receiving these, please contact genesis@webershandwick.com .
About Genesis HealthCare
Genesis HealthCare is a holding company with subsidiaries that, on a combined basis, comprise one of the nation's largest post-acute care companies, providing services to more than 325 skilled nursing facilities and assisted/senior living communities in 24 states nationwide. Genesis subsidiaries also supply rehabilitation therapy to approximately 1,200 healthcare providers in 44 states, the District of Columbia and China. References made in this release to "Genesis," "the Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Genesis Healthcare, Inc. and each of its wholly-owned companies. Visit our website at www.genesishcc.com .
Contact:
Lori Mayer, Media Relations
610-283-4995
lori.mayer@genesishcc.com
