State health department opens COVID-19 vaccine signups to people 65 and older
VIDEO: DHEC: 65 and older can schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments By Riley Bean | February 3, 2021 at 12:02 PM EST - Updated February 8 at 5:32 AM
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control says they and Governor Henry McMaster announced South Carolinians 65 or older can begin scheduling their appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
DHEC says vaccinations for the 65 and older range begin Monday, and all residents, regardless of health status or preexisting conditions are eligible for the vaccine.
With increased vaccine allocations from the federal government and a streamlined, statewide vaccination plan, DHEC says it is now appropriate to expand the number of South Carolinians eligible to receive vaccine. They do say however that supply of the vaccine remains limited for the time being.
This process won't begin for at least two weeks while health experts develop more details and plans to share with the board again at their next meeting.
S.C. lawmakers grill DHEC leaders on vaccine distribution process, speed
S.C. lawmakers grill DHEC leaders on vaccine distribution process, speed By Kristin Nelson | January 21, 2021 at 7:46 PM EST - Updated February 12 at 7:09 PM
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WMBF) – For four hours on Thursday, leaders with the Department of Health and Environmental Control faced tough questioning from several South Carolina lawmakers about the vaccine distribution across the state.
Rep. Weston Newton, the chairman of the ad-hoc committee created to study DHEC’s receipt and distribution of the vaccines, opened up the meeting by saying that the state is moving at an “unacceptable” pace when it comes to distribution.
The order includes: certain students of an accredited medical school who have had proper training; registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and physicians who have retired, become inactive, or whose licenses have lapsed within the last five years but were in good standing and licensed dentists who have taken certain COVID-19 vaccination training programs.
DHEC says all these newly qualified people will need to enroll in the federal COVID-19 vaccine program before they can begin.
MUSC spokesperson Heather Woolwine says there are additional roles that non-clinical volunteers may be slotted into, such as crowd control and registration to help move the process along.
The order includes: certain students of an accredited medical school who have had proper training; registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and physicians who have retired, become inactive, or whose licenses have lapsed within the last five years but were in good standing and licensed dentists who have taken certain COVID-19 vaccination training programs.
DHEC says all these newly qualified people will need to enroll in the federal COVID-19 vaccine program before they can begin.
MUSC spokesperson Heather Woolwine says there are additional roles that non-clinical volunteers may be slotted into, such as crowd control and registration to help move the process along.