Seniors in South Carolina aged 70 and over will be eligible to make appointments for the coronavirus vaccine starting Wednesday, officials confirmed Monday morning.
The news was first announced by SC Senator Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, in a tweet.
Governor @HenryMcMaster says that starting Wednesday, those aged 70 and over can make vaccination appointments. I asked: who can make 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
Until now, access to the coronavirus vaccine was limited to primary care employees, residents and staff in long-term care facilities, hospital patients aged 65 years or older who are not COVID-19 positive. and others included in the first phase of vaccine launch.
The SC Department for Health and Environmental Control has expanded the number of people eligible to be vaccinated in the first phase in an effort to increase immunizations.
DHEC has set a deadline on Friday for those included in the first phase or for their employers to schedule a meeting, or should wait until one of the subsequent phases. Officials said they plan to assess how many people sign up in the coming days to assess when to move on to the next phase of the launch.
The expansion came as lawmakers expressed growing frustration with the launch of the vaccine.
On January 5, Gov. Henry McMaster set a deadline for Friday, which DHEC adopted.
On Friday, McMaster said the number of health workers “who are not ready to receive the vaccine” was surprising and that “it will only open the door for the next group soon.”
He suggested that he was ready to use his executive authority to force an extension of eligibility.
“I can promise you everything I need to do with the executive power given to the governor to move those lines, to put the vaccine in people’s arms as soon as possible, and we expect to have announcements soon.”
Asked by The Post and Courier on Friday what seniors would say about why they can’t get a hit in South Carolina, while other states have already made seniors eligible, the governor said DHEC is based on guidelines and CDC best practices.
“The chosen path was considered to be the best, because the idea was to vaccinate hospital workers who care for patients with COVID or who may need to be in hospital, very sick, who do not have the virus. to have those hospitals that work to take care of the rest of us. “
“But I’m with you,” he told The Post and Courier. “It is time to have a simplified and more streamlined process to ensure that the elderly and those with severe conditions of any age go ahead and receive vaccinations. Hospitals are working non-stop to find ways to accommodate more and more people, even when setting up car clinics. “
More details are expected Monday later.
This story is developing. Come back for more.
Sean Adcox contributed to this report.
Arrive Gregory Yee at 843-937-5908. Follow him on Twitter RegGregoryYYee.