FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 27, 2021
COLUMBIA, SC – A new national report shows that South Carolina is among the best in the country for how fast the state is putting doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in people’s arms. Becker’s Hospital Review, a national health information forum, launched its “States ranked by percentage of COVID-19 vaccines administered” and South Carolina is in 10th place in the country for administering more than 61% of the total doses of the vaccine received in the state.
“While South Carolina, like other states, currently faces limited supplies of vaccines, DHEC continues to work with the governor, the South Carolina Hospital Association, the South Carolina Medical Association, hospitals and other important suppliers to help to inject into the arms of the South Carolinians as quickly as possible, “ said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC’s Acting Director of Public Health. “Our ultimate goal is to save lives, and we thank vaccine suppliers across our state for their work to publicize the COVID-19 vaccine to the public, as well as to thank the South Carolinas for their desire to be vaccinated.”
Becker’s report uses data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide a uniform comparison of vaccine use across states. Shows the rate at which doses are used based on the total number of injections given in relation to the total doses received.
In mid-January, the CDC indicated that South Carolina was among one of the lowest states in rates of distributed doses and injections administered by 100,000 people, but that report did not include the more than 200,000 doses that South Carolina dedicated in lump sum to a state effort to vaccinate all residents and employees of long-term care facilities in the state. The CDC Data Tracker does not calculate a usage rate showing the doses administered in relation to the doses distributed. The way in which Becker’s report shows the rate of vaccine use is a much better way of reporting vaccine use, especially when making comparisons between states.
“We continue to make great progress in our vaccine launch across South Carolina and the biggest challenge has been and remains the limited vaccine doses available,” Traxler said. “All states are addressing the challenges of ensuring that every drop of the vaccine is administered to those most vulnerable to COVID-19.”
Until sufficient vaccine is available to everyone, Southern Carolinians must continue to take daily precautions to prevent diseases that work, as COVID-19 is still spreading across our state at high levels. Even after receiving your vaccine, you will need to wear a mask and physically distance yourself from other people until a sufficient number of the population is vaccinated against this deadly virus.
For the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit scdhec.gov/vaxfacts.
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