South Carolina expects 60,000 more vaccine doses this month

COLUMBIA S.C. (WCSC) - The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is expecting to receive around 60,000 initial doses combined of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines this month, according to the state immunizations director.

DHEC Immunizations Director Stephen White said they are planning to expand where people in phase 1a can receive their vaccines.

“In the next week or two we anticipate we will see additional vaccinators to be able to help vaccinate those outside of the walls of long-term care facilities and/or the hospital systems and have additional access points for people that wish to be vaccinated,” White said.

DHEC Interim Public Health Director Dr. Brannon Traxler said she feels the initial vaccine rollout has been “very smooth at this point considering all of the logistical complexities.” She said people can expect distribution to ramp up in the coming weeks.

“I believe that we are seeing that increase and we will continue to see that increase over the next couple weeks a very rapid increase in the utilization rate of the vaccines,” Traxler said.

While the state is currently in Phase 1a, which includes frontline healthcare workers, nursing homes and first responders, Traxler said teachers and school staff can expect to be in the next group to receive the vaccine.

“We will have a variety of opportunities to receive the vaccine once we get to that phase,” Traxler said. “That likely includes pharmacies, and vaccine clinics that are open to all phase 1B .”

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