A website designed to allow healthcare providers to sign up for an appointment to receive the COVID-19 vaccine through the Medical University of South Carolina has gone viral, allowing anyone with access to the link to book an appointment regardless of their suitability.
MUSC spokeswoman Heather Woolwine said the application website was originally sent to outside community health care providers such as dentists, ophthalmologists and physical therapists so their employees could receive a vaccine through the hospital. Health professionals are considered part of Phase 1A in the roll-out of vaccines, giving them access to the vaccine earlier than other at-risk groups.
Woolwine said MUSC relied on an honor system and relied on these third-party healthcare providers not to forward the sign-up link to friends and family. But that inevitably happened. She did not know if anyone or how many people in the community who are not eligible for Phase 1A were able to receive a vaccine through MUSC. But going forward, anyone with an appointment will be required to show proof of their health care work, she said.
“The advantage of this is that these are people who want to get the vaccine. That’s a good thing. We want people to get the vaccine,” Woolwine said. “The concern is supply and demand.”
This story develops.
To achieve Lauren Sausser at 843-937-5598.