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COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Expanded in South Carolina

As of Wednesday, March 31st, any South Carolinian aged 16 and older is eligible to schedule and receive their COVID-19 vaccine, marking South Carolina’s move to Phase 2 of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

In an effort to get as many individuals vaccinated as possible, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster made the decision to skip Phase 1C, which would have only included individuals aged 45 and older, and opened up the vaccine eligibility to include more people.

In a statement on the decision to open vaccine eligibility, DHEC Director Dr. Edward Simmer said, “We started by making vaccines available to those who were most vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19; the elderly, those with high risk of exposure at work, and those with medical conditions that worsen the effects of COVID-19…we are now able to offer three very safe and effective vaccines to all South Carolina residents over the age of 16 – another step on our path to take control of COVID-19 instead of it controlling us and getting back to normal.”

Click here to find a COVID-19 vaccination center near you and schedule your vaccine.

News

COVID-19 Vaccine Arrives In South Carolina

The COVID-19 vaccine first arrived in South Carolina on Monday, December 14th. 

The FDA-approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which requires two doses that are taken 21 days apart, is currently being distributed in an effort to save lives by aiding those who are most susceptible and in close contact with the virus.

As a part of Phase 1a of the state’s vaccine distribution plan, frontline workers have begun receiving the vaccine. Between now and the end of the year, vaccines will hopefully also be available for nursing home residents and individuals in long-term care facilities.

Dr. Jane Kelly, Assistant State Epidemiologist, said South Carolina “should receive 200,000 to 300,000 doses of vaccine by the end of the year, but that depends upon several things. That also takes into consideration that the Moderna vaccine will receive emergency use authorization, which we think it will, but that’s not confirmed yet.”

In a tweet on the arrival of the vaccine to the state, Governor Henry McMaster said, “Our frontline healthcare workers have sacrificed so much for our people this year. Now, we’ve received the first shipments of the COVID-19 vaccine and medical professionals across the state will begin receiving doses soon.We are witnessing American ingenuity at its finest!”

Click here to learn more about the FDA-approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.