Spanish Center continues vaccine clinics
With other places dropping out, its one of the few remaining offerings
LEOMINSTER » Four dozen area
residents were vaccinated on Wednesday at the library, part of the ongoing Spanish American Center monthly COVID-19 vaccine clinics community outreach effort.
“It’s important to us and for us to meet people in their community where they are most comfortable and to provide outreach, education, and timely updates about the vaccines and distribute PPE and home tests,” said Donata Martin, a consultant at SAC and Making Opportunity Count.
Claire Rheault of Shirley visited the library clinic on Wednes
day, May 25, along with a friend, and received her second Moderna booster shot, which was administered by Community Health Connections nurse Carmen Sanchez.
Pandemic- related items including hand sanitizer, masks, at home tests and packs of tissues are offered complimentary at the clinics.
The Spanish American Center has consistently hosted vaccine clinics the last Wednesday of each month at various locations around the city for over a year and will continue to offer clinics “as long as there is a need in the communities,” Martin said. She said that is especially true now in the wake of other clinics and testing sites in the Twin Cities tapering off and closing over the last several months due to decreased demand.
The Spanish American Center has served the Twin Cities and all North Central Massachusetts communities since 1966 providing the services of a food pantry, meals to the homeless shelters, Summer Eats free meals in parks and playgrounds, advocacy for victims of domestic violence,
immigration services, English as a second language classes, youth programming, advocacy services for the elderly, and COVID19-related relief services.
It has held 20 clinics in Fitchburg and Leominster since July, vaccinating 310 people with staff from the COVID Vaccine Program, Community Health Connections, and volunteer doctors. The clinics currently offer first and second doses of primary vaccines and the first booster for ages five and up and a second booster for those eligible — adults ages 50 and older or people 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vaccines and boosters are an important part of protecting people from getting seriously ill or dying from COVID-19 and they are recommended for most people. The Spanish American Center is offering three clinics in June.
Clinics will be held from 1 to 4 p.m., on June 14 at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 63 Sheridan St., Fitchburg; at the Summer Kick- Off Celebration from 9 a. m. to 1 p.m., on June 25, at the Spanish American Center, 112 Spruce St., Leominster; and from 1 to 4 p.m. on June 29, at a location to be determined.
For more information on upcoming Spanish American Center vaccine clinics and others in the region visit www.c3-worcester.org/ worcester.