COVID-19 Vaccine Update

• Yes, Life Care encourages residents and associates at its affiliated facilities to make an informed decision to receive the vaccine. We have seen that COVID-19 often has a greater detrimental impact on our residents due to their underlying health conditions more than it impacts the general population.

• While we believe that each individual should make informed decisions about the health care they receive, we have been and will continue to follow any government vaccination mandates. We are committed to ensuring our associates around the country understand the requirements laid out by various states and the federal government. Most of all, we are committed to the well-being of the residents in our care.

• Life Care believes it is vital that each individual resident and/or their legal representative make informed decisions about the healthcare the resident receives, and we also encourage them to consult with their primary physician for guidance. As such, while Life Care is encouraging all residents to take advantage of the COVID-19 vaccines, it is not requiring residents to receive the vaccine.

• Yes, all 208 of our facilities, for any resident or associate who has chosen to vaccinate, have access to the vaccine.

• Yes, vaccines are available to our new associates and residents. We continue to work with our pharmacy provider to assist in the provision of these vaccines.

• Life Care-affiliated facilities have received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, depending on the location and availability.

• Yes, the current vaccines available do provide a level of protection against the variants.

• All of the vaccines available offer robust protection against the Delta variant in the prevention of severe illness or death.

• The vaccine is free of charge to associates and residents. Insurance will be billed by the administering pharmacy. For those without insurance, the administering pharmacy will work with the government's COVID-19 Program for Uninsured Patients regarding payment.

• Side effects will be shared by the drug manufacturer. As with any medication (over the counter or prescribed), there may be side effects. Life Care encourages all its residents and their families, as well as associates at local facilities, to review information from official health experts such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Medical Directors Association to make an informed decision about the vaccination.

• Current science on this is still evolving, and we are not sure to how long a vaccine will provide immunity, but we continue to follow the science and current public health recommendations.

• According to the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing COVID-19, including severe illness and death, in the vaccinated individual. However, if you are fully vaccinated and become infected with COVID-19, including the Delta variant, you can still spread the virus to others. For more information, please visit the CDC page here.

• Because the vaccine is not 100% effective, we will continue to test residents and staff as directed by the state and local health departments, CMS and the CDC.

• Yes. We continue to screen our associates prior to the start of their shift.

• Yes. We continue to follow CDC and CMS guidance, and at this time we are still required to wear masks while in the facility.

Life Care has been and will continue providing booster doses in accordance with current CDC recommendations.

Currently, the CDC recommendations are (taken directly from the CDC):

• People 65 years and older and residents in long-term care settings should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.
• People aged 50–64 years with underlying medical conditions should receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series.
• People aged 18–49 years with underlying medical conditions may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.
• People aged 18-64 years who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting may receive a booster shot of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months after their Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, based on their individual benefits and risks.

We are working closely with our primary pharmacy provider in administering these Pfizer vaccine boosters to residents and associates.