MASHANTUCKET, CT (March 31, 2021) – With the vaccine being essential to reopening, the race has been on to get Connecticut residents vaccinated as quickly as possible. To help make this a reality, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation partnered with Hartford Healthcare to open a mega vaccination site at Foxwoods Resort Casino earlier this month in order to help vaccinate as many people as possible to protect them against COVID-19.

Since opening on March 8, the site at Foxwoods has distributed over 10,000 vaccines, becoming the largest vaccination center in the Hartford Healthcare network. Foxwoods also set a record for the highest number of vaccinations in one day with 1,532 shots on Saturday, March 20 and has the highest daily vaccination average of all 22 sites in the Hartford Healthcare system.

“The vaccination site at Foxwoods has been a wonderful opportunity for us to help keep the larger Connecticut community safe and healthy,” said Dr. Setu Vora, Chief Medical Officer, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. “We are thrilled with the progress we’ve made so far and look forward to continue working with Hartford Healthcare to vaccinate as many residents as possible and work closer towards reaching the end of this pandemic.”

“The partnership between Hartford HealthCare, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Resort Casino has been instrumental to our ability to rapidly vaccinate as many people as possible throughout Eastern Connecticut,” said Donna Handley, senior vice president at Harford HealthCare and president of Backus and Windham Hospitals. “We believe that by providing this access to our communities it will help us win the race against COVID, bring closure to this pandemic and allow us to move forward with our lives. It’s something that we all want, and through a combination of getting vaccinated, wearing masks and physical distancing, it’s an achievable goal.”

As part of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation’s commitment to keep everyone safe and help alleviate burden on the local community, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe also started vaccinating frontline workers back in December, gradually expanding with the goal of vaccinating the entire tribal nation and Foxwoods workforce. So far, approximately 65% of Foxwoods team members have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and over 40% are fully vaccinated.

For more details on what to expect when arriving at Foxwoods, please visit foxwoods.com/vaccine. For updates on the state’s phased rollout, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine. For more information about Hartford HealthCare vaccination efforts, visit hartfordhealthcare.org/vaccine.

About the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
The Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribal Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribe located at one of America’s oldest Indian reservations, Mashantucket, in Southeastern Connecticut.  As pioneers of the Indian Gaming casino industry, the history of the Mashantucket Pequots reveals one of America’s greatest come-back stories, featured at the Tribe’s world renowned Mashantucket Pequot Museum. Today, the Tribe owns and operates one of the largest Integrated Resort Casino destinations in North America, Foxwoods Resort Casino, along with a variety of complementary businesses including a world-class golf course, luxury spa, Pequot Pharmaceutical Network, and Pequot Plus Health Benefit Services.  As one of Connecticut’s highest revenue contributors and largest employers, the Mashantucket Pequots have provided the state more than $4 billion in slot revenue through a first-of-its-kind agreement, established in 1993.  Likewise, the Tribe has contributed hundreds of millions in donations and sponsorships for the benefit of communities and tribes in need, locally and throughout the U.S.

About Foxwoods Resort Casino
As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods Resort Casino offers guests a premier destination resort experience throughout its six world-class casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels featuring over 2,200 rooms; dining options for all tastes; luxurious spas; award-winning golf; state-of-the-art theaters; Tanger Outlet Mall; conference space for groups of all sizes; and free online casino games at FoxwoodsONLINE.com. There is always something new at Foxwoods, most recently the arrival of Foxwoods Extreme Adventures. Adventure knows no limit as guests can zipline or race around on a European-style indoor karting track. Foxwoods Resort Casino truly is The Wonder Of It All, providing a personalized and exciting escape for everyone. Foxwoods, opened in 1992, is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. For a detailed look at Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation visit Foxwoods.com.

About Hartford HealthCare
Hartford HealthCare is Connecticut’s only truly integrated healthcare system. With 33,000 colleagues, $4.3 billion in operating revenue and a medical staff of 4,000 providers, the system offers the full continuum of care with seven acute-care hospitals, the state’s longest-running air-ambulance service, behavioral health and rehabilitation services, a physician group and clinical integration organization, skilled-nursing and home health services, and a comprehensive range of services for seniors, including senior-living facilities. To learn more, visit www.HartfordHealthCare.org