man giving a senior living resident a vaccine
Seabury at Springvale Terrace resident David Gadson gets a vaccine during the community’s St. Patrick’s Day-themed immunization clinic and festivities. (Photo courtesy of LeadingAge)

Traditionally, one could get pinched for not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day. At Seabury at Springvale Terrace in Silver Spring, MD, residents came March 17 ready to get pinched … with a needle. The senior living community hosted a vaccination drive over the holiday weekend, and it was a big success. 

Pharmacists from Seabury’s long-standing vaccine partner, Giant Food, set to work prepping a selection of shots, including the bivalent COVID-19 booster as well as vaccines for flu, tetanus, pneumonia and shingles. 

Resident David Gadson, 81, eagerly rolled up his sleeve.

“I don’t hesitate. If it is going to help, I will take it,” said Gadson, a former New Yorker who moved to Seabury a year ago. “I don’t think the Lord would put it out there if it wasn’t safe,” he added, according to an account shared by LeadingAge.

The immunization clinic and related festivities also were open to staff members and their families. A variety of activities, ranging from gift raffles to afternoon karaoke, were available to attendees — not to mention a few sweet treats at the end.

Seabury Executive Director Marcy Hunter organized the event using grant money received from LeadingAge’s partnership with the Department of Health & Human Services’ “We Can Do This” campaign.

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