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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 31, 2020
COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) today provided the following update on the state’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, including the state’s progress in vaccine immunization in phase 1a; and efforts underway to protect the health and safety of the whole South. Carolinians:
Since we received the first doses of the vaccine on December 14, we remain encouraged by the commitment of Southern Carolinians to continue to do their part in the fight against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated. As of this morning, 39,100 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in South Carolina, with vaccines continuing to be administered daily.
The rapid, efficient and equitable distribution of massive doses of COVID-19 vaccine represents a public health logistical effort on a scale never seen before in the United States and is a massive undertaking. DHEC is leading this effort in South Carolina, but it could not be accomplished without our many state and federal partners.
Our ultimate goal is to save lives. DHEC remains committed to working with our partners to ensure that everyone who wants to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in South Carolina will be, but it will take time. It is important to recognize that this is a rapidly evolving event. This vaccine is unlike any vaccine we have encountered before.
South Carolina, like other states, has faced several challenges due to the unique demands of mass distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Challenges to date include limited vaccine supplies during phased deployment, complex logistics, and adapting to changes in federal guidelines. DHEC expects other challenges to evolve, but is confident that with collaborative problem solving and the support of our partners, we will meet each new challenge head-on.
Preparing for historical ultra-cold storage requirements
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first authorized vaccine in history to be stored at ultra-cold frozen temperatures, requiring sites that receive it to have specialized ultra-cold freezers with temperature monitoring capabilities . Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine also only ships in 975-dose packages, which means the location that receives direct shipment of it must have the capability to timely donate or store it in an ultra-cold freezer. . As these logistical challenges complicate vaccine distribution, DHEC and our partners identified storage opportunities and increased capacity months ago.
Adapt to rapidly changing federal guidelines
In addition, federal guidelines for populations to be vaccinated changed just as the initial vaccine distributions were sent to states. This resulted in a significant increase in the population included in phase 1a. In South Carolina and other states, agencies such as DHEC then had to review and edit some of the plans and protocols in place for distribution in the state. The same assessment and changes then had to be made at the local level when hospitals and distribution sites started receiving shipments and vaccinating their employees. The sites are currently actively vaccinating according to state and federal guidelines in the most aggressive manner possible.
Like the rest of the country, the initial process required states to remain flexible as we adjust and adapt to changing circumstances. Work continues at large vaccination sites across the state with plans to begin distribution to smaller facilities next week.
Go from the initial phase to extended availability in summer
The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has provided guidance to categories of individuals to be included in phases 1a, 1b and 1c. South Carolina is currently in phase 1a and vaccinates individuals in this phase according to the recommendations of the SC COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee based on the ACIP guidelines. The committee is currently working to translate the national recommendations from Phases 1b and 1c into action in South Carolina. The following diagram gives an overview of the categories foreseen for each phase. This is subject to change at any time for many reasons, such as a change in federal guidelines or in the recommendations of the SC COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee for South Carolina.
Phase 1a
- Residents and staff of long-term care facilities
- Health workers (with an initial focus on health workers essential to the mission of preventing death), including:
- People providing direct medical care to patients suspected and / or confirmed of COVID-19: medical staff (i.e. interns, residents, fellows), nurses, orderlies, physiotherapists (PT), physicians, medical assistants , respiratory therapists (RT), speech therapists performing swallowing assessments during a patient’s infectious period, occupational therapists, translators with direct patient contact, students (medicine, nursing, PT, RT)
- Auxiliary personnel interacting directly with patients suspected and / or confirmed of COVID-19: laboratory personnel handling potentially infectious samples, phlebotomists and radiology technicians
- Emergency room staff in the above categories who provide direct care to patients at high risk of exposure to undiagnosed, suspected and / or confirmed COVID-19 patients
- Paid and volunteer medical first responders (EMS, firefighters and law enforcement personnel who provide emergency medical services as EMTs or certified paramedics) and hospital transport personnel in direct contact with suspicious patients and / or confirmed COVID-19
- Persons providing direct medical care in penitentiary establishments
- People providing direct medical care in dialysis and infusion centers
- Outpatient workers treating people suspected or confirmed of COVID-19 infection
- Workers in settings where monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19 infusions are administered
- Home health and palliative care workers
- Nurses / public health personnel at risk of exposure to COVID-19
- Autopsy room staff, coroners, embalmers and funeral home staff are at risk of exposure to bodily fluids
- Dentists and hygienists and dental assistants
Phase 1b
- People aged 75 and over (with or without underlying health problems)
- Essential frontline workers (sectors included by ACIP include firefighters, law enforcement officers, prison officers, food and agriculture workers, state postal workers United, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, transit workers, and those working in education – teachers, support staff, and child care workers)
Phase 1c
- Essential workers not included in phase 1b (examples included by ACIP include people working in transport and logistics, food services, housing construction and finance, information technology, communications, energy, law, media, public safety and public health personnel who are not – frontline health workers)
- People aged 65 to 74 (with or without underlying health problems)
- People aged 16 to 64 with underlying health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 (more information to follow from the SC COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee)
As vaccine supply increases, ACIP’s vaccination recommendations will expand to include more groups, in phases 2 and possibly 3. The following diagram provides an overview of the estimated timeframes for each phase. :
- Beginning of winter – Vaccinations for phase 1a are expected to continue until February 2021.
- Late Winter to Early Spring – Based on current CDC guidelines, the state will move to phase 1b once 70 percent of South Carolinians identified in phase 1a have been vaccinated.
- Spring to summer – Phase 2 is expected to begin in spring 2021, and vaccines are expected to be available to the general public during summer and fall 2021.
Understand the next steps for phased vaccine deployment
Everyone in our state who wants to be vaccinated will have their turn. In the meantime, we are committed to keeping you updated on the progress of the phased approach to administering vaccines and will let you know when and where you can receive them. We call on all South Carolinians to mobilize by stepping back until it is their turn in the plan.
For people in phase 1a who have not yet been contacted regarding a vaccination opportunity, DHEC works with our partners from SCHA and SCMA as well as many independent providers and vaccination locations to integrate them and allocate and distribute vaccines in the coming weeks. As more vaccination locations become available, we will contact healthcare workers through their employers, associations or licensing entities to provide a way for them to sign up if they wish to be contacted when it is theirs. turn to make an appointment for vaccination. It will take several weeks to a few months to vaccinate everyone in Phase 1a, so please be patient as we go through this process.
As more information becomes available, we will update our website at scdhec.gov/vaxfacts.
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