COLOMBIA, SC (WRDW / WAGT) – South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has announced that the state will move to Phase 1B of COVID-19 vaccinations starting Monday.
This includes people aged 55 and over, as well as essential workers.
He announced the move during a press conference at 10 am.
Starting on Monday, appointments to receive the vaccine can be made by people from the following groups:
- Anyone aged 55 or over
- People at increased risk of severe COVID-19 disease, including people aged 16 to 64 with current cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, Down syndrome, heart disease (congestive heart disease, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertension pulmonary disease), HIV / AIDS, solid organ transplantation, obesity, pregnancy, sickle cell disease, developmental disability or other serious, high-risk disability.
- Frontline workers with increased occupational risk, such as school and day care workers, manufacturing workers, grocery workers and police.
- Individuals most at risk in environments where people live and work in close contact, including residents and workers in group home settings for the physically or mentally disabled or those with behavioral or substance abuse conditions, workers and residents in homeless shelters , workers and residents in community training houses, employees of state and local correctional institutions with direct contact with prisoners, prisoners and prisoners of immigration detention, migrant rural workers living in shared housing or dependent on shared transport, all workers in services health facilities and community health facilities that have routine and direct contact with the patient and have not been vaccinated in Phase 1A.
Online appointments can be booked using scdhec.gov/vaxlocator or you can call 866-365-8110 for assistance.
You may need to prove eligibility by showing an identification that includes the date of birth, verifying that you meet the criteria for a frontline or essential worker, or verifying that they have an eligible high risk medical condition.
Public health officials estimate that it will take 70 to 80 percent of the population to be vaccinated to achieve collective immunity and discontinue COVID-19.
Based on current levels of vaccine supply, DHEC predicts that Phase 1C will begin on approximately April 12th. This will include people aged 45 and over, essential workers not included in Phase 1B and some other groups.
Phase 2 is scheduled to start around May 3, including Southern Carolinians aged 16 and over.
Also during the press conference, McMaster demanded that schools reopen five days a week.
“The arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines, including the recent approval of the new one-shot Janssen vaccine, has given us renewed hope for a return to normality and a light at the end of the tunnel,” Chief Department of Health and Environmental Control chief Dr. Edward Simmer said in a statement. “At the same time, we know that our fight is not over yet. Until enough of us are vaccinated, we should all continue to wear masks, stand 2 meters away from others and avoid crowds, even after we have received the vaccine. “
McMaster issued the following statement:
“During South Carolina’s vaccination efforts, our priority has been – and remains – to save lives,” said McMaster. “In February, South Carolina made great progress in expanding access to vaccines as vaccine supplies increased. Our hospitals, pharmacies and healthcare providers have become more agile and efficient in obtaining vaccines. Because of these successes, we are now in a position to make the majority of Southern Carolinians eligible to receive the vaccine.
“South Carolina remains focused on protecting the life and health of South Carolinians from an increase,” said Dr. Edward Simmer, Director of DHEC. “With the significant supply of vaccines and progress in vaccinating people in group Ia, frontline health professionals and people aged 65 and over, we are now ready to move on to our next health. Our state’s vaccination plan prioritizes those most at risk, while ensuring the same treatment phase as the vaccine for all South Americans aged 16 and over. “
Copyright 2021 WRDW / WAGT. All rights reserved.