Chris Hollister headshot
Chris Hollister

Dallas-based Pegasus Senior Living this week joined a growing list of senior living providers requiring that staff members be vaccinated against COVID-19. The firm announced Monday that all employees must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1. 

“Given the high efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine, its impeccable safety record, and approval from the FDA last week, it is time to take this measure for the safety and well-being of our residents and team members. It is our highest duty and a sacred obligation,” Chris Hollister, co-founder and CEO of Pegasus, said in a statement.

Pegasus manages 38 communities nationwide, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care services; 36 of the communities are held in a joint venture with its capital partner, Toledo, OH-based real estate investment trust Welltower.

Pegasus will partner with CVS Health’s long-term care pharmacy, Omnicare, as it did for the company’s resident vaccination clinics last year, to hold on-site vaccinations at all Pegasus properties this fall. The vaccine will be free of charge for all employees, residents and eligible residents’ family members.

“What we know is that the Pfizer vaccine is highly effective at preventing serious illness or death from COVID-19,” said Sandra Petersen, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, GNP-BC, PMHNP-BE, FAANP, senior health and wellness consultant for Pegasus. “As of today, almost 5 billion doses of the vaccine have been administered worldwide and approximately 200 million doses have been administered in the U.S. Contracting COVID-19 while you are unvaccinated leads to more dramatic outcomes, including hospitalization, serious illness, or worse than if you are vaccinated.”

Among additional senior living companies requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for employees are Aegis Living, ALG Senior, American House Senior Living Communities, The Arbor Co., Ascension Living, Atria Senior Living, Benchmark Senior Living, Brightview Senior Living, Brookdale Senior Living, CareOne, Civitas Senior Living, Enlivant, Episcopal Homes, Episcopal Retirement Services, ER Senior Management, Eventide Senior Living Communities, the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, Five Star Senior Living, Genesis HealthCare, Harbor Retirement Associates, Homestead Assisted Living, Immanuel Senior Living, IntegraCare, Integral Senior Living, JEA Senior Living, Jewish Home Family, Juniper Communities, LCS, Masonicare, Meridian Senior Living, Pacific Retirement Services, Phoebe Ministries, Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, Presbyterian Senior Living, PruittHealth, Retirement Center Management, Silverado, Sunrise Senior Living, Transforming Age, Trilogy Health Services, Trinity Health, United Methodist Communities, Vi Living, Wesley Enhanced Living and Western Home Communities.