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FAQs Vaccine Plan Phase 1a Guidance Phase 1a Allocations
Phase 1b Phase 1c Phase 2 vaccine updates
What stage am I in?
Our priority is to save lives. Everyone will have a chance to get the vaccine. However, the number of doses is currently limited in South Carolina, as in all states. We ask everyone to be patient, know what stage you are in and follow the guidelines of our public health officials. This will allow public health officials to ensure that those most at risk and those who keep us alive are vaccinated first.
To support this effort, vaccine delivery is taking place in a phased approach. The following diagram provides an overview of the expected categories and the time for each phase. This is subject to change at any time for a variety of reasons, such as a change in federal guidance or the VAC recommendations for South Carolina.
Phase 1a and 70+ (currently in progress)
As of Wednesday, January 13, any South Carolina resident aged 70 or older, regardless of health status or pre-existing conditions, you can start scheduling your appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. A map of current locations that accept vaccine nominations will be available at scdhec.gov/vaxlocator starting Wednesday, January 13.
Employers are encouraged to contact local hospitals as soon as possible and no later than January 15, 2021, with a list of names and contact information for employees who wish to be vaccinated. In addition, individuals in Phase 1a who wish to be vaccinated should contact their local hospitals to request and schedule an appointment by January 15, 2021.
Individuals who make an appointment may need to provide credentials to verify that they are eligible to receive the vaccination according to Phase 1a. This includes providing some proof (for example, badge, card, license, personalized letter from the employer, photo of the license) of Phase 1a qualification when applying for vaccination.
Phase 1a includes:
- Health professionals
- Initial focus on frontline health professionals in high risk of exposure and mission critical to the overall goal of preventing death
- Healthcare professionals and medical staff can use the SCHA hospital’s contact information list to schedule their vaccines.
- Residents and employees of long-term care institutions
- Patients admitted to hospitals aged 65 and over, as long as they do not have COVID-19 and a provider considers it suitable for them
- Anyone aged 70 or over, regardless of health status or pre-existing conditions
- State / local government employees and their contractors who are essential to the maintenance of vaccine operations and COVID-19 tests in SC
Health professionals include:
- Anesthesiology assistants, registered invasive cardiovascular specialists and surgery team
- Athletic Trainers
- American Sign Language (ASL) and other interpreters in healthcare facilities
- Autopsy team, coroner, embalmer and funeral home staff at risk of exposure to body fluids
- Chiropractors
- Dentists and hygienists and dental technicians
- Team of food and dietary services in health facilities
- Environmental services team in healthcare facilities
- Harbor Pilots
- Home health workers and hospices
- Hospital transport staff
- Laboratory staff and phlebotomists
- Licensed dietitians
- Medical Assistants
- Medical rescuers (paid and voluntary): EMS; Fire brigade and law enforcement personnel providing emergency medical care
- Nurses, nursing professionals and nursing assistants
- Opticians and optometrists and assistants / technicians
- Persons providing medical care in correctional facilities and correctional officers
- Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
- Physical and occupational therapists and assistants
- Doctors, including medical staff (ie interns, residents, fellows) and medical assistants
- Podiatrists
- Public health health workers who are frequently interacting with people with potential COVID-19 infection
- Radiology technicians
- Respiratory health professionals, such as respiratory therapists
- Speech therapists, assistants and speech therapists
- Students and interns in the above categories
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Phase 1b (late winter 2021)
* All time estimates are subject to change due to vaccine availability, demand and provider participation.
Phase 1b includes:
- Essential frontline workers
- Sectors included by ACIP: firefighters, police, prison officers, food and agricultural workers, USPS workers, industry workers, grocery workers, public transport workers and those working in the education sector – teachers, support staff and daycare workers
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Phase 1c (early spring 2021)
* All time estimates are subject to change due to vaccine availability, demand and provider participation.
Phase 1c includes:
- All people aged 65 and older
- Old people 16 and older with certain underlying health conditions that puts them at high risk for serious illness (CDC list)
- From others essential workers
- Examples included by ACIP: people working in transport and logistics, food service, housing construction and finance, information technology, communications, energy, law, media, public safety and public health staff who are not frontline health professionals
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Phase 2 (late spring-autumn 2021)
* All time estimates are subject to change due to vaccine availability, demand and provider participation.
Phase 2 includes:
- ALL people who want to be vaccinated
- Ages recommended by ACIP
Phase 2 of vaccinations is expected to begin in late spring 2021, with vaccines expected to become available to the general public during the summer and autumn of 2021.
What should I do now?
Everyone will have a chance to get the vaccine. We call on all South Carolinians to continue to fight together to fight this disease, taking small steps that make a big difference:
- Using your mask
- Get tested and stay home when you’re sick
- Avoiding large meetings
- Practicing physical distance
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Vaccine updates
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