At a vaccine clinic at Arlington Middle School in Lawrence, Medical Assistant Student Jasmine Hong gave Brenda Sicard of Lawrence her vaccine.

Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) and Northern Essex Community College (NECC) have joined forces in the fight against COVID-19.

On Thursday, April 8, GLFHC opened its fourth vaccine clinic on the Lawrence Campus of NECC – the vaccine clinic is located in the Dimitry Building on the corner of Franklin and Lowell streets. The health center also operates vaccine clinics in Methuen, Haverhill and at its West clinical site on 700 Essex St. in Lawrence.

With the opening of this clinic, Northern Essex students, faculty, and staff can access dedicated appointments as well as surplus vaccines available at the end of the day.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for our health center to expand our COVID vaccine outreach through another collaboration with our educational partner Northern Essex Community College, ensuring that we provide the vaccine to as many people as possible in Lawrence and surrounding communities,” John M. Silva, President and CEO of GLFHC, said.

Since receiving its first doses of the COVID vaccine in December, GLFHC has vaccinated close to 40,000 people. Currently, the health center is vaccinating about 8,000 people per week at its vaccine clinics and through its Mobile Health Units, which vaccinate the homeless people living in shelters, as well as people living in senior housing and homebound residents. In addition to the vaccine doses from the Commonwealth, GLFHC receives supplies from the federal government as part of the Biden Administration’s Federally Qualified Health Center Program for COVID-19 Vaccination. The federal program is designed to ensure that the nation’s underserved communities and those disproportionately affected by COVID-19 are equitably vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Northern Essex is proud to play a role in helping to vaccinate Greater Lawrence residents, who have been so hard hit by the virus,” said Lane Glenn, president of Northern Essex Community College.  This is also going to be a great benefit for our students, faculty, and staff, who will have access to these vaccines. The sooner we get people vaccinated, the sooner we will be able to return to normal, which will include having everyone back on campus.”

The vaccination clinic at NECC will be able to vaccinate over 200 people per day to start, providing more access in the weeks ahead. GLFHC is also working with the college to vaccinate employees and students as the eligibility criteria opens up on April 19. GLFHC is also working with NECC to provide externship opportunities for students in health professions areas of study.

About GLFHC: The mission of Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is to improve and maintain the health of individuals and families in the Merrimack Valley by providing a network of high quality, comprehensive health care services and by training health care professionals to respond to the needs of a culturally diverse population. More than 64,000 patients depend on GLFHC for their primary health care needs at locations in Lawrence and Methuen. For more information, visit https://glfhc.org.

Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers approximately 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, 6,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,000 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu or call 978-556-3700.