Approximately 41,000 non-South Carolina residents received a vaccine within the borders of the state of Palmetto, according to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Considered a small portion of the total vaccine doses distributed here, the health agency says it does not plan to intervene and prevent non-residents from being vaccinated against COVID-19.
On the other hand, DHEC also claims to be aware of about 15,000 South Carolina residents receiving doses of vaccine outside state boundaries.
These figures represent 3% of the nearly 1.3 million doses of the vaccine administered in South Carolina.
DHEC started publishing demographic information about who got the vaccine in mid-February and added data to its online panel in recent weeks. An agency spokeswoman said that residents of North Carolina and Georgia are generally receiving vaccines mainly in the South Carolina counties that border their states – suggesting that they can live or work nearby.
Nick Davidson, senior public health deputy at DHEC, said on March 10 that the agency is not considering any requirement that vaccinees provide proof of residence.
North Charleston recreation worker Danielle Jones gives Lennar Lawson four masks after he passed the North Charleston Athletic Center on March 11, 2021. North Charleston received a donation of 25,000 facial masks from Leominster, Massachusetts, to distribute to the community. They are available for pickup at Athletic Center and Felix C. Davis Community Center, as well as at Northwoods Community Center. Brad Nettles / Team
Davidson said it is important not to create barriers to vaccination and emphasized that the health agency is trying to make the process as simple as possible.
“This disease knows no borders,” said Davidson. “We are trying to protect everyone.”
Neighboring states have adopted somewhat tougher measures. A few weeks ago, North Carolina health officials said it is acceptable to deny visitors the vaccine if they do not live or work in the state, according to Raleigh’s WRAL news station. Meanwhile, Georgia’s health commissioner, Dr. Kathleen Toomey, said vaccine tourism is “irresponsible and selfish”.
As of March 11, about 17,000 North Carolina residents and about 5,000 Georgia residents had been vaccinated in South Carolina. About 20,000 recipients listed a different state.
State figures
New cases reported: 359 confirmed, 184 likely.
Total cases in SC: 452,004 confirmed, 77,388 probable.
Positive percentage: 6.4 percent.
New reported deaths: 38 confirmed, 7 probable.
Total deaths in SC: 7,803 confirmed, 1,019 probable.
Percentage of ICU beds occupied: 71 percent.
How does SC rank in vaccines administered by 100,000 people?
42nd on March 10, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most affected areas
In the total number of newly confirmed cases, Richland County, 42: Greenville County, 41: and Charleston County, 24, recorded the highest totals.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County had 24 new cases on March 11, while Berkeley had 15 and Dorchester 16.
Deaths
Seven of the new confirmed deaths reported were from people aged 35 to 64 years and 31 in patients aged 65 and over.
Hospitalizations
Of the 595 patients with COVID-19 hospitalized on March 11, 163 were in the ICU and 62 were using ventilators.
What do the experts say?
The CDC released a new guideline this week on what people who have been vaccinated can safely do.
The news that people who have been fully vaccinated can get together in small groups was one of the new CDC recommendations that gave the public a much-needed reason to be excited.
Dr. Jane Kelly, an assistant epidemiologist in the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, said on March 10 that, to be considered fully vaccinated, individuals need to wait two weeks after finishing their doses.
Catch up Mary Katherine Wildeman at 843-607-4312. Follow her on Twitter @mkwildeman.