COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) – South Carolina is changing the way doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are distributed in its clinics.
The change is enforced by state law, specifically House Bill 3707. Governor Henry McMaster signed it on February 19.
Requires that 14 days after demand it becomes effective (February 19) that future doses “should be allocated to the four DHEC public health regions on a per capita basis with considerations taken into account factors including, but not limited to, level of poverty, rates of infection, age and high-risk populations. ”
March 5 marks the 14th day since the signing of the joint resolution, that is, the four regions (Midlands, Pee Dee, Low Country and Upstate) will start receiving the corresponding doses.
In a call to journalists on March 5, DHEC’s Deputy Senior Public Health, Nick Davidson, said that all future orders for COVID-19 vaccine doses will be distributed based on the model. “The region will get what it deserves on a per capita basis,” he said.
He said that as part of the new system, each clinic will receive a basic number of weekly doses.
DHEC’s public health regions divide the WIS observation area between Midlands, Pee Dee and Low Country.
It is currently unclear how each county will do with the changes, but currently, DHEC vaccine panel shows Saluda, Calhoun and Sumter among the counties with the lowest number of doses allocated per capita.
Davidson said the transition also offers DHEC a level of flexibility.
“If we see areas of great need or areas where the need is least, it allows us to use the vaccine where necessary,” he said.
In an interview on Thursday with WIS, the manager of the Emmanuel Family Clinic office in Saluda said access to doses was less worrying than the reluctance of the Saluda community. “I think a lot of people are still afraid to make it. They are not sure about the side effects of the injection, or the availability yet, ”she said. Davidson said demand for the vaccine will play a role in distribution, but he doubts that demand is a problem.
“I can be sure that the demand will increase a lot and will probably have to start on Monday with[Phase}1B”saidhe[Phase}1B”hesaid[Fase}1B”disseele[Phase}1B”hesaid
He continued to state:
“We certainly will not continue to send vaccines to suppliers in areas that are not in demand for it.”
The DHEC board will hear a presentation on the regional model on Thursday at its regularly scheduled meeting.
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