Sandy Seniors Get Long-Awaited Vaccinations

SANDY, Utah – A few dozen seniors in Sandy finally got the COVID-19 vaccinations they had hoped for earlier in the year. The Salt Lake County Health Department sent a vaccination clinic to Solstice Senior Living to give shots to residents and staff.

Some residents at the independent living facility got their COVID-19 shots when their age group opened up in January. The majority of the residents don’t drive and didn’t have access to a vaccine until Tuesday.

Lorraine and Ron Erickson were among the residents who roll up their sleeves.

“I miss my family so much,” said Lorraine Erickson.

Before the pandemic, they got a family visit each week. Lorraine has 12 grandkids and 26 great grandkids.

“I miss them a lot,” she said.

They’ve felt isolated. The Ericksons are not very mobile these days, so it’s important for them to get the vaccine where they live. They were eager to get their shots, so they could start planning family get togethers.

“My family from Colorado are coming real soon because we’re getting our vaccination, and they got theirs,” Lorraine said.

Staff and residents hoped the vaccine will ease the isolation and depression some residents have felt during the pandemic.

“As soon as we found out they were coming, they were just overjoyed. Families were happy. It just makes them feel more at peace that they’ve been able to get this done,” said Stephanie Barrick, director of sales and marketing for Solstice Senior Living.

Sandy Reisher caught the virus in February, and as had to quarantine in her room for two weeks.

“All I did was sleep. I didn’t even want to eat,” she said.

So, how important was getting the shot for her?

“It’s very important,” she said. “I don’t want to get COVID again. I heard you can have it twice.”

Carol Orenstein said it was a relief to get the first dose of Pfizer vaccine, even though they’ll have to be cautious until they are fully vaccinated.

“When someone in the building had COVID, we had to be put in our rooms, and stay in there, and that was very hard,” she said.

Despite the lo wait, the seniors have been resilient, too, While facing a year-long pandemic.

“They’ve been really tough, and really excited for this to happen so that they can get back to normal,” said Barrick.

Health workers administered approximately 40 vaccinations to residents and staff Tuesday. They’ll get their second dose in three weeks, and should have full immunity two weeks after that.