News & Events

"COVID-19 education has been a priority for Esparza-Perez whose federally-qualified health center serves a high percentage of Hispanic or Latino patients. It provides primary and preventative care in both English and Spanish.

COVID-19 hospitalization rates for such patients are much higher than those of non-Hispanic whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Government agencies, as well as others, have highlighted the need for information about the virus — and the two recently authorized vaccines — to be accessible to blacks, Latinos and people of color.

“I was looking like a mad man,” Esparza-Perez said. “Telling everyone on the street who would listen that I got vaccinated as well as on my social media and having lots of conversations with people at work as well as with my patients. The science behind the vaccine is very solid, side effects are mild and well-tolerated in the majority of cases.”

Vaccine education that Holyoke Health has done with staff has resulted in many of them being immunized, Esparza-Perez said. He is optimistic for similar results with patients as the state’s timeline for who can get vaccinated begins to broaden.

“People respond very well once they understand,” Esparza-Perez said. “We make the information we give personal and local. If you don’t take the time to do this, then people resort to finding information wherever they can. If you know how to explain it and give them the right sources for information, people respond positively.”

Some 70 percent of the 24,000 patients that Holyoke Health serves annually in Holyoke, Chicopee and surrounding communities, identify as Hispanic or Latino."

To read the entire artcile, visit MassLive at www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/02/health-care-providers-urge-latino-community-to-get-covid-19-vaccine

In December 2020, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH)announced the roll-out of Phase 1 of the COVID Vaccine Plan. Individuals eligible in Phase 1 of the plan included frontline healthcare workers. On December 22nd, the Holyoke Health Center received their first shipment of 400 Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines and in that same week, vaccine clinics for Holyoke Health Center staff members began. As of mid-January, approximately 300 Holyoke Health Center staff members have been vaccinated for COVID-19, over 80% of the entire organization.

The Holyoke Health Center continues to follow the MA DPH COVID Vaccine Plan and currently is hosting vaccine clinics for individuals eligible in Phase 1 and Phase 2A.

For more information, visit our COVID Vaccine webpage for updates on eligibility.

Holyoke, MA – On Tuesday, December 22nd Holyoke Health Center’s CEO, Jay Breines, announced the arrival of the first shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. “Our staff have been preparing for this over the past few weeks and within hours of the vaccine arrival, our vaccine clinic was put into final operational state and the first vaccines are now being administered to our staff”. The Holyoke Health Center, located at 230 Maple Street in Holyoke, is among the first community health centers in the state to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for vaccination of their frontline healthcare workers.

The Holyoke Health Center received a total of 400 vaccinations between their two health center locations in Holyoke and Chicopee. According to the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan, healthcare workers are the first group to receive the vaccine during Phase 1 of the plan. Marlo Connor, Holyoke Health Center’s Chief Operating Officer stated “the goal is to reach universal vaccination within our health center staff so that we can be at full strength to implement the next, larger phase to vaccinate all of our high risk patients and eventually any of our patients who want to be vaccinated in the coming months.”

The Holyoke Health Center hosted their first COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for high priority staff on Wednesday, December 23rd. Among the first who received the vaccine on Wednesday morning was Holyoke Health Center’s Chief Medical Officer, Alejandro Esparza-Perez, who felt it was important to show staff and patients alike that getting vaccinated is one of the most important things anyone can do at this time, and that it is safe and effective. During the first vaccine clinic, CMO, Dr. Esparza stated “I am thankful for all the healthcare workers who continue to work tirelessly, and most importantly, I am thankful for all those who are choosing to get vaccinated because your actions speak louder than words - you are all an example of strength and doing your part to once and for all end this pandemic. The only way we are going to defeat this terrible virus is to band together and get vaccinated.”

Over the next two weeks the Holyoke Health Center will continue to vaccinate all employees who choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine requires a two-dose vaccination, and the second dose will be administered 28 days after the first dose was received. The Holyoke Health Center anticipates additional shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine in early 2021 to begin administering to health center patients as part of the Commonwealth’s Phase 2 Vaccine Plan.

To learn more about the Massachusetts COVID-19 Vaccine Plan, visit COVID-19 Vaccine in Massachusetts | Mass.gov
To learn more about the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, visit Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine | FDA

Due to inclement weather, Holyoke Health Center and all locations are CLOSED on Thursday, December 17th.

Normal business hours will resume on Friday, December 18th.