Providers of the coronavirus vaccine should avoid asking for patient identification or facing punishments from the state health department.
The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control notified vaccine suppliers in a March 25 email obtained by Post and Courier to “not require people to provide any identification or proof of their age, work or medical condition” – or face a possible cut in vaccine supply.
The email goes on to state that such repercussions are becoming necessary because “some providers refuse to follow the guidelines” Providers must collect people’s insurance information.
Vaccine recipients in South Carolina do not have to prove their age even if they reside in the state. In fact, as of March 24, DHEC was aware of about 15,000 doses that went to residents outside the state.
Nick Davidson, senior public health deputy at DHEC, said that although the repercussions are possible, the agency has not yet had to resort to them.
“We have not suspended any vaccine for that reason,” he said.
As of March 31, anyone aged 16 or over in South Carolina is eligible to receive the vaccine, state leaders announced on March 26.
State figures
New cases reported: 657 confirmed, 471 probable.
Total cases in SC: 462,140 confirmed, 84,530 probable.
Positive percentage: 3.6 percent.
New reported deaths: 12 confirmed, 0 likely.
Total deaths in SC: 8,031 confirmed, 1,061 probable.
Percentage of ICU beds occupied: 70 percent.
What is the classification of SC in vaccines administered by 100,000 people?
43 as of March 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most affected areas
In the total number of new confirmed cases, Greenville County (122), Richland County (69) and Spartanburg County (50) saw the highest totals.
What about the tri-county?
Charleston County had 39 new cases on March 26, while Berkeley and Dorchester had 19 each.
Deaths
One of the new confirmed deaths reported was in a person aged 18 to 34 years old, three were people aged 35 to 64 years old and eight were patients aged 65 years or older.
Hospitalizations
Of the 526 COVID-19 patients admitted on March 26, 128 were in the ICU and 56 were using ventilators.
What do the experts say?
New CDC research suggests that anxiety and depression are increasing as the pandemic progresses.
The report found a significant increase in people who said they had recent symptoms of depression or anxiety disorder. In February, 42% of all adults reported experiencing symptoms, compared with 36% in August.
The results of the survey, published on March 26, found that the problem was especially acute in adults under the age of 30 and people under high school. Many of the people who said they were experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression also said that they had not received treatment for those feelings.
“One in four adults who experienced these symptoms reported that they needed it, but did not receive counseling or therapy for their mental health,” the researchers wrote.
To reach Mary Katherine Wildeman at 843-607-4312. Follow her on Twitter @mkwildeman.