Commack Rehabilitation Center Administers Coronavirus Vaccine

COMMACK, NY — The coronavirus vaccine was administered to the nurses, staff and residents of Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center on Monday. The center was joined by its pharmacy partner, Walgreens, at Gurwin's 68 Hauppauge Road, Commack, headquarters.

Lynette Rutherford, RN and chief nursing officer; and Stuart B. Almer, CEO, were among the first to receive the vaccine, according to a news release.

"I feel fine," Almer said. "The vaccine was not unlike any other vaccine I have ever received."

The rehabilitation center is vaccinating roughly 230 residents and 125 staff who volunteered to take it, Almer said.

Rutherford was excited to take the vaccine, she said.

"I know it is very important and will make a difference for everyone," she said. "Residents and their families have also been very excited to take it. This will let people see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel."

Debbie Grosser, 61, was among the first residents to receive the vaccine.

"I haven’t been sick during the entire pandemic," Grosser said.

Gurwin operates a 460-bed nursing and rehabilitation community in Commack with more than 800 employees, as well as an assisted living community on the same 34-acre campus with an additional 100 employees.