Senior Gets

A Dose of Love & PfizerBioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine

Granddaughter reconnects with grandmother at a vaccination clinic

Rachel Trendler had last hugged her grandmother, Gloria Forbes, nearly a year ago, just before the pandemic hit. Earlier this January, she got to hold her grandmother’s hand for the first time in a very long time and also administered the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Trendler is a pharmacist for Walgreens in Reno. She joined four other pharmacists and technicians on Jan. 8th to administer 130 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to residents and team members who live and work at Summit Estates Senior Living and Memory Care. This was the first of two vaccination Gloria Forbes receives COVID vaccine by grandclinics scheduled daughter Rachel Trendler. The Summit Estates in the community. team prepared a playlist that included Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” “We feel so blessed to be part of this effort,” said Trendler. “Administering the vaccine is taking another step toward reuniting everyone with their families.” Up until the pandemic, Trendler was a regular visitor at Summit Estates, stopping by every two-to-three days with her newborn son to see Forbes. “This was the first time I truly laid eyes on her,” said Trendler. “She looked great, happy, and healthy.” Administrator Tara Alto said Forbes had an inkling her granddaughter might be part of the Walgreens vaccination team. She “tracked down Rachel” and was so happy to see her in person rather than via a window visit or video chat. “Forbes was ‘giddy with excitement,” said Alto, as was the entire community that day. “It was a happy day for everyone. Residents were excited to get their COVID-19 vaccine and they felt hopeful for what this would mean for the future,” she explained.