Genesis HealthCare System Expects COVID-19 Vaccines Tuesday

The Genesis HealthCare System has announced it anticipates its first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine, totaling 975 doses, on Tuesday. The Genesis team has been formulating a distribution plan since the Ohio Department of Health announced Genesis as one of 10 sites in Ohio to distribute the vaccine.

Genesis is following the National Academy of Medicine and Ohio Department of Health guidelines for COVID-19 allocation that includes four phases.

Phase 1 is divided into two sub-phases: 1 a and 1 b. The first group to get the vaccine includes high-risk health workers and first responders and that includes physicians and staff who provide direct patient care to COVID-19 patients. The group also includes Emergency Department providers and staff, Critical Care Unit physicians and staff, respiratory therapists and staff who work on units with COVID-19 patients.

Phase 1 b prioritize people of all ages with comorbid and underlying health conditions that put them at a significantly high risk and older adults living on congregate or overcrowded settings to receive the vaccine.

Plans for other phases of the vaccine distribution are being develoment and will be shared later.

Genesis HealthCare CEO Matt Perry said “this is an exciting step toward eradicating this pandemic with the receipt of our first shipment of the vaccine. We know that vaccinating as many people as possible will help us achieve this goal.” He is encouraging the community to wear a face mask, social distance and wash hands often because this fight is far from over.