CONWAY – The Horry County government received an official inquiry – to which it has already responded – from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control after a note promising the Modern COVID-19 vaccine to all employees was made public by Johnny Vaught , the District 8 representative on the Horry County Council.
The scrutiny comes as thousands of elderly people in Horry County and others in the Phase 1A category, which is determined by DHEC, are awaiting their first dose of vaccine.
At Conway Medical Center and Tidelands Health, the waiting list is 20,000 each – with Tidelands still not registering people aged 65 and over due to a delay in the supply of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Demand outstripping supply led DHEC to pay close attention to the entire distribution, so it is now investigating a January 15 note from the Horry County Human Resources Department to all 2,250 employees that said the Modern vaccine quota for county is “available full-time, part-time and temporary employees, as well as volunteers and interns who work within the capacity of county departments.”
According to the note, only the identification of the municipality was necessary to receive the vaccine.
A weekly newsletter sent by the county on February 12 indicated that “2,202 individuals affiliated with the Horry County government volunteered and received the vaccine.”
It is unclear whether all staff received the vaccine through the Emergency Operations Center at the ML Brown Public Security building, with Horry County Fire Rescue administering the doses.
Fire Rescue is one of three county government entities across South Carolina that have received permission from DHEC to receive and administer the Modern vaccine, joining Clarendon County Fire and Rescue and Cherokee County Fire and Rescue.
DHEC indicated that HCFR must comply with the same rules as any other vaccine supplier, limiting distribution to those in Phase 1A, which includes “state / local government employees and their contractors who are essential to maintaining COVID- 19 and testing in SC. ”
Horry County’s aggressive approach to its employees sparked DHEC’s interest, which sent a note to Ben Lawson, HCFR’s chief coordinator for vaccine distribution, on Sunday, asking for an explanation for the possible “intentional vaccination of individuals outside priority groups in Phase 1A identified by the Vaccine Advisory Committee and promulgated by the Agency. “
The note goes on to ask for information about who was vaccinated, how the effort was planned and carried out and “if any incidental administration was necessary to prevent or reduce vaccine waste”.
According to DHEC, until February 14, HCFR distributed 1,818 first doses and 123 second doses.
While waiting for HCFR’s responses, DHEC told the Post and Courier Myrtle Beach that it is monitoring suppliers closely to ensure the general public that vaccines are going to the appropriate Phase 1A individuals – and the lack of compliance may have repercussions.
“Our number one priority is to prevent additional deaths,” said DHEC. “Future vaccine allocations to individual providers can be reduced based on any lack of adherence to DHEC’s phase guidelines.”
Late Monday afternoon, Horry County released an email from Lawson to DHEC, explaining Horry County’s government marching orders and process – a volunteer that started on January 13, according to the e-mail.
“Horry County government officials are essential to maintaining government function and mission-critical COVID-19 vaccination and testing efforts. We also considered the ‘bench depth’ criteria in Phase 1A as part of the planning process, “Lawson said in an email.
Lawson also indicated that HCFR talked to DHEC about the vaccine distribution process.
“Before any vaccine was administered, we spoke with Alexandra Hayes and Donna McNeil of SCDHEC about how the county planned to use vaccine distribution with their understanding to do it as quickly as possible and with as little waste as possible,” Lawson wrote “In consideration of this guidance, employees who chose to receive the vaccine received a designated person to also receive a vaccine with an emphasis on those who met the criteria in Phase 1A. We recognize and appreciate the criteria system and will continue to assist the state in this critical mission. ”
Vaught said his intention in providing the email to the media was not to publicize the county for its vaccine distribution practices, but to comply with public domain laws.
Vaught said he believed the county should follow the rules.
“I think we should follow the guidelines, whatever they are,” said Vaught, who indicated that he still did not know if the county was in fact following the DHEC guidelines.
The 71-year-old said he chose not to get the vaccine for two reasons – a personal belief that it does not prevent the virus from spreading, and he does not want to take a dose of anyone he may need.
“I did not feel, as an elected official, that I had the right to receive the vaccine before anyone else,” said Vaught. “Police, firefighters and emergency personnel – these people must be the first to actually receive them.”
Talk to Nick Masuda at 843-607-0912. Follow him on Twitter at @nickmasudaphoto.