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‘Moving at an unacceptable pace’: S.C. lawmakers form committee to review COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Two South Carolina leaders announced on Monday the formation of a committee that will review the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
McMaster says he will order hospitals to put off elective surgeries if vaccinations don’t speed up
This announcement came during his tour of Lexington Medical Center’s vaccination clinic in West Columbia Monday afternoon.
Clarendon County left with no vaccination options as federal distribution slows roll-out
The highest rate in the state in Union County at 10.5 percent.
Vaccine shortage in SC threatens vaccination push by hospitals
They may not have the doses to get it done.
MOST RECENT
70+ age group struggles to find COVID-19 vaccine appointments
Some seniors who have had success booking an appointment will still have to wait for weeks
DHEC Care Line ‘fully functional’ after high call volume on Wednesday, officials say
The Care Line is also being backed up by public information phone systems, although officials expect there to be continued high call volume.
Veterans line up to get COVID-19 vaccines at the Columbia VA
This week, they opened up vaccinations to veterans out in the community.
DHEC Care Line sees unprecedented call volume as thousands try to schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments
The agency has doubled its call center staff from 30 employees to 61, but they still anticipate long wait times.
HOW TO: SC residents 70 and up can now schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments
Find links and phone numbers to schedule an appointment through DHEC, Lexington Medical Center, Prisma Health and the Columbia VA.
Prisma Health, Columbia mayor give update on vaccine
Jan. 13 is the first day anyone 70 or older in South Carolina may make an appointment to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccine Advisory Committee navigates guidance for Phase 1b as DHEC tackles vaccine distribution challenges
DHEC and its advisory committee are working to expand its scope while determining who best to bring the vaccine to next.
DHEC Care Line receives over 5,000 calls Wednesday morning; doubling number of call operators
The phone line designated to help those 70 and older with making COVID-19 vaccine appointments, was inundated with calls Wednesday morning.
SCDHEC calling on qualified individuals to help with COVID vaccination, 150 positions available
Available positions include nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, administrative support and other key personnel across the state.
Columbia NAACP and Dr. Linda Bell tackle vaccine skepticism with Q&A
On Tuesday evening, the group held a Zoom forum with Dr. Linda Bell and other community leaders to answer questions.
Long-term care facilities near 1,700 COVID-19 deaths as Moderna vaccine rolls out
The federal government partnered with the pharmacies CVS and Walgreens to administer the vaccines on-site for willing residents and staff.
Veterans should contact VA for COVID-19 vaccines, here’s how
Officials said it is the goal of the VA to vaccinate all enrolled veterans.
SC superintendent calls for teachers to be moved to top of phase 1b for COVID-19 vaccine
Some teachers have also expressed concern for not having paid sick leave or time off if they get the virus or have to quarantine.
South Carolina State Epidemiologist receives COVID-19 vaccine
Dr. Bell stated that she’d “gladly” do her part by rolling up her sleeve and getting vaccinated.
‘We are tired of seeing people die’: Orangeburg doctor warns hospital is almost full
In Orangeburg, hospital capacity has climbed to 92.6 percent, with Regional Medical Center staff saying every COVID unit is essentially full.
Demand for convalescent plasma triples as COVID-19 cases rise
The Red Cross says hospital distributions of convalescent plasma have increased by 250% since October, and there’s now a national shortage.
‘This is not the polio vaccine’: DHEC official explains vaccine rollout hurdles
Assistant State Epidemiologist Dr. Jane Kelly said the agency was met with unexpected hurdles in the first days of administering the vaccine.
DHEC asks hospitals to start vaccinating admitted patients who are 65 and older
Hospitals may begin giving the vaccine to these eligible patients immediately.
Hospital leaders ask DHEC for greenlight to move to Phase 1B
The CEOs of Prisma Health, Lexington Medical Center, MUSC, and Tidelands Health urged the board to eliminate barriers on who can be vaccinated, and when.
How to schedule your vaccination if you’re eligible for Phase 1A
DHEC said people in Phase 1A should be prepared to prove their eligibility.
Despite slow vaccine rollout, state seeing more than 500 extra doses in vials
The January 6 COVID-19 Vaccine allocation update from DHEC shows 11 facilities are reporting vaccine utilization rates higher than 100%.
McMaster: Those in Phase 1A have until Jan. 15 to get vaccine or ‘go to back of the line’
McMaster said the state has “identified roadblocks” in the rollout and they are going to fix them to speed up the process.
DHEC: Surging cases overwhelming health care system, slowing down vaccine distribution
DHEC asks South Carolinians to take the virus seriously so the focus can shift to vaccine distribution.
SC Natl. Guard Major General: Now is the ‘critical point’ in the fight against COVID-19
Pediatrician Dr. Deborah Greenhouse said it’s not just hospitals that are strained by this surge, the spike in cases is making her own practice busier than ever.
LIST: COVID-19 vaccine distribution phases, who receives vaccine in each phase
DHEC provided new information Thursday on the COVID-19 vaccine distribution phases and who falls under each phase.
SC lawmakers pre-file bill looking to ban mandatory vaccinations
The bill states the reason for this change would be to protect the rights of citizens and “prohibit discrimination.”
Masks are crucial as vaccine rollout continues, SC health officials insist
A state health official says South Carolina could prevent 450 deaths over the next three months if everyone wears masks.
More than a quarter of SC hospitals entered the New Year at 90% occupancy
Williams stressed that while diversions become a possibility at these high occupancy rates, each hospital has its own, tailored surge plan and may not need to divert any patients at this time.
DHEC explains why 63% of COVID vaccines in SC are still on ice
Officials say so far, vaccine distribution is going well and they hope to speed up the rate of vaccinations soon.
DHEC gives timeline when SC residents can expect to get COVID-19 vaccine
Officials provided an update on the phases in the distribution plan, which now includes a Phase 1C.
McMaster asking DHEC to provide public with COVID-19 vaccine distribution information
Gov. Henry McMaster is asking state health officials to provide the public with a complete account of the status and location of every COVID-19 vaccine dose that has been received and distributed in the state.
S.C. teacher group asking state leaders to provide specifics about vaccine rollout for school workers
Educators and staff members across South Carolina have been switching gears, finding new ways to educate children during the COVID-19 pandemic.
DHEC explains new COVID-19 variant, how S.C. is monitoring virus
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is addressing how it’s monitoring the new COVID-19 variant that was first discovered in the United Kingdom.
Lexington long-term care residents ‘thrilled’ to get COVID-19 vaccine
Wellmore of Lexington is one of the first facilities in the Midlands to begin vaccinations after CVS launched the vaccination program in South Carolina on Monday.
DHEC: 31% of all vaccine doses delivered to SC administered so far
DHEC reports 35,158 of the 112,125 doses in the state have been injected into people’s arms.
South Carolina lawmakers push for quicker vaccination process
South Carolina state health officials say while more vaccines continue to arrive in the state, doses are limited.
Should pregnant women get the COVID-19 vaccine? Health experts weigh in
Currently, little data is available for how pregnant and lactating women will react to the approved Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, but health experts say the results they have collected are promising.
Some SC first responders, others in phase 1a still waiting for COVID-19 vaccine
Tuesday, some first responders in Batesburg-Leesville received their vaccinations.
Some Lexington County first responders receive COVID-19 vaccine
Officials in Batesburg-Leesville and Lexington have received vaccine.
CVS rolls out COVID-19 vaccine to SC long-term care facilities, nursing homes
They will be administering the Moderna vaccine, and CVS plans to visit each facility three times within a three-month span.
“It’s the best Christmas present”: Prisma Tuomey frontline workers receive COVID-19 vaccine
Both officials and frontline workers said the vaccine comes as a huge relief after a challenging 10 months.
Columbia VA begins distributing Moderna vaccine
UPS delivered the vaccines to the hospital just before 10:30 Tuesday morning, and vaccinations started shortly after that in the employee vaccination clinic.
SC has vaccinated nearly 20,000 people against COVID-19 so far
Those getting vaccinated now fall under Phase 1A of the state’s vaccination plan.
CVS to begin COVID-19 vaccinations of long-term care residents in SC on Dec. 28
Long-term care residents are included in Phase 1A of South Carolina’s vaccine plan.
Scott posts Facebook photo as he receives COVID-19 vaccine
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina says he received the COVID-19 vaccine.
DHEC’s multi-pronged attack against COVID-19: Ramp up testing and plan a wide-scale vaccine roll-out
A multi-pronged approach to try to get the virus under control.
’Thank God for those who produced these vaccines’: Sen. Lindsey Graham gets COVID-19 vaccine
It comes less than 24 hours after a second vaccine was approved to be distributed nationwide.
DHEC: 7,000+ frontline medical workers vaccinated, 0 severe allergic reactions
In a media call on Friday, senior officials with the Department of Health and Environmental Control gave an update on the vaccine roll-out in South Carolina.
South Carolinians urged to be aware of scams centered around COVID-19 vaccine
Officials said the best way to avoid scams is vigilance.
Despite family loss, Richland County worker hesitant about COVID-19 vaccine
Three of those deaths were JT Thomas’s uncles.
VACCINE FAQ: Can COVID-19 impact fertility and pregnancy?
One concerning rumor that has caught people’s attention online is that the COVID-19 vaccine can have an impact on fertility, pregnancy, and breastfeeding for women.
SC could get 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by year’s end, DHEC says
Shipments of vaccine will come in each week.
Dr. Bell: ‘It may take months’ to vaccinate enough people to return to normal
Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist, says she’s eager to take the vaccine, but she will wait her turn.
Prisma Health starts vaccinating staff as part of Phase 1A rollout
Health officials say even with the vaccine rollout, we must stay diligent in maintaining the health practices already in place.
VACCINE FAQs: Doctor answers specific concerns about COVID-19 vaccine
WIS asked more than a dozen South Carolinians about their worries or questions regarding the vaccine and had Dr. MenkinSmith respond to each concern.
Lexington Medical Center begins COVID-19 vaccinations
The hospital will begin vaccinating employees at 3 p.m.
‘An extraordinary moment in history’: DHEC gives update on COVID vaccine rollout
Dr. Jane Kelly said the Moderna vaccine approval could come by the end of this week, with the FDA potentially giving it emergency use authorization.
EXPLAINER: How does the COVID-19 vaccine work?
Health experts helped us break it down in a way that’s not too complicated to understand.