Seniors age 70 and older in South Carolina are eligible to make appointments starting Wednesday to get the coronavirus vaccine, officials confirmed Monday morning.
The news was first announced by SC Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, in a tweet.
Government @HenryMcMaster says that from Wednesday the over-70s can make vaccination appointments. I asked who can give vaccines, how many doses are available, is VAMS the only way to make appointments? I will provide an update when I have answers to these questions. pic.twitter.com/N2sa0uuY8C
– Tom Davis (@senatortomdavis) January 11, 2021
As of now, access to the coronavirus vaccine was limited to primary health care workers, residents and staff of long-term care facilities, hospital patients aged 65 or older who are not COVID-19 positive, and others admitted to the first stage. of the roll-out of the vaccine.
The SC Department of Health and Environmental Control has expanded the number of people eligible for vaccination during the first phase in an effort to increase immunizations.
DHEC has set a deadline for Friday for those included in the first stage, or their employers, to schedule an appointment, otherwise they will have to wait for one of the later stages. Officials said they plan to evaluate how many people are signing up in the coming days to gauge when they will move on to the next stage of the rollout.
The expansion came as lawmakers expressed growing frustration with the vaccine’s rollout.
On January 5, Governor Henry McMaster set the deadline for Friday, which DHEC had passed.
On Friday, McMaster said the number of health workers “not ready to get the vaccine” was surprising, and that “the door will soon open for the next group.”
He hinted he was ready to use his executive power to enforce an extension of eligibility.
‘I can promise you everything I have to do with the executive that has been given to the governor to move those lines, to get that vaccine into the arms of the people as soon as possible, we will do, and I expect that we will will receive announcements soon. ‘
Asked by The Post and Courier on Friday what he would tell seniors about why they can’t get a chance in South Carolina, when other states had already considered seniors, the governor said DHEC relied on guidelines and best practices from the CDC.
“The path chosen was considered the best because the idea was to vaccinate the hospital workers who care for COVID patients or who may need to be in the hospital if they are very sick and don’t have the virus. function to take care of the rest of us. “
“But I’m with you,” he told The Post and Courier. “It’s time for a more simplified, streamlined process so that the elderly and those with serious conditions of any age can get the vaccinations. Hospitals are working around the clock to find ways to accommodate more and more people, even to set up drive. -in clinics. “
More details are expected later Monday.
This story develops. Come back for more.
Sean Adcox contributed to this report.
To achieve Gregory Yee at 843-937-5908. Follow him on Twitter RegGregoryYYee.