COVID-19 vaccine in South Carolina: DHEC gives update on how distribution is going – WYFF4 Greenville

COVID-19 vaccine in South Carolina: DHEC gives update on how distribution is going

43,227 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine given to people in phase 1A as of Monday

Updated: 4:44 PM EST Jan 4, 2021

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

TURNOUTS. WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW. >> WE BEGIN WITH OUR CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE. MORE COVID-19 TESTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE COMING BACK POSITIVE. OFFICIALS SAY MORE PEOPLE ARE HOSPITALIZED WITH THE VIRUS IN SOUTH CAROLINA NOW THAN AT ANY POINT IN THE PANDEMIC. HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE REPORTING 3,492 NEWLY CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 IN THIS STATE. TODAY'S REPORT ALSO INCLUDES 15 CONFIRMED COVID-19 RELATED DEATHS. THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED TO OVER 5,000 PEOPLE. DHEC TELLS US THERE NOW HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF NEARLY 300,000 CASES ACROSS THE STATE. OFFICIALS SAY OVER 10,000 TEST RESULTS WERE REPORTED YESTERDAY. AND THE PERCENT OF POSITIVE CASES WAS OVER 33%. >> STEP UP BY STEPPING BACK. THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS THIS AFTERNOON. PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR DR. BRANNON TRAXLER SAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO BE PATIENT, WAIT THEIR RETURN FOR THE VACCINE. OUR NIGEL ROBERTSON JOINS US WITH THE LATEST ON ALL THIS. NIGEL: TODAY, THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF S.C. DHEC UPDATED THE MEDIA OF HOW THE VACCINE ROLLOUT IS GOING IN THE PALMETTO STATE. AS OF TODAY, THE STATE HAS ADMINISTERED 43,227 DOSES OF THE VACCINE. ON TOP OF THAT, 38% OF THE VACCINE HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED IN PHASE 1A. THIS IS NOT SITTING WELL WITH SOME LEADERS IN THE STATE. THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED ON DHEC TO START PROVIDING UPDATES AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. TODAY, STATE SENATOR NIKKI SETZLER TWEETED THIS. THE DISTRIBUTION OF VACCINES IN SOUTH CAROLINA IS NOT MOVING QUICKLY ENOUGH. WE NEED DHEC TO STEP UP AND MOVE FASTER IN HELPING SAVE LIVES. HE WENT ON TO SAY FOR THE INTERIM PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR OF DHEC ON TELL THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO REMAIN PATIENT WHILE THEIR LOVED ONES AND NEIGHBORS ARE DYING IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE. TODAY, INTERIM DIRECTOR BRANNON TRAXLER SAYS THEY WANT TO DO MORE. >> CURRENTLY, OUR UTILIZATION RATE, PERCENTAGE OF VACCINE THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED HAS BEEN ADMINISTERED FOR PFIZER IS 38%. AND WE HAVE THE MOST KNOWLEDGE OF THE PFIZER NUMBERS BECAUSE THE MODERNA IS GOING TO THE LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP. CERTAINLY, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE AS CLOSE TO 100% UTILIZATION AS POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. NIGEL: DR. TRAXLER SAYS THE QUICKEST WAY TO MOVE THE VACCINE ALONG IS FOR MORE PEOPLE TO WEAR A MASK TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD. SHE SAYS THAT WILL FREE UP MEDICAL PERSONNEL ALLOWING THEM TO HELP WITH THE VACCINE ROLLOUT. MORE ON ALL OF THIS COMING UP IN 5:00 AND 6:00. >> THANK YOU, SOUTH CAROLINA SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS MOLLY SPEARMAN ANNOUNCES SHE HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. SUPERINTENDENT SPEARMAN SAYS SHE WAS TESTED ON DECEMBER 31ST. SHE SELF-QUARANTINED AFTER BEING IDENTIFIED AS A CLOSE CONTACT TO HER HUSBAND AND HER SON WHO HAD BOTH TESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS. SUPERINTENDENT SPEARMAN ADDED SHE INTENDS TO WORK FROM HOME AND TAKE PART IN MEETINGS VIRTUALLY WHILE SHE REMAINS IN QUARANTINE. >> HERE'S A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS IN NORTH CAROLINA. HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE REPORTING OVER 5100 NEW CASES. THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR TO MORE THAN 570,000 CASES. THERE HAVE BEEN NEARLY 7,000 VIRUS RELATED DEATHS IN THE STATE AND HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE HIT ANOTHER NEW RECORD. STATEWIDE, MORE THAN 3600 PEOPLE ARE IN THE HOSPITAL. OF THOSE, 783 PATIENTS ARE IN THE I.C.U. AS OF TODAY, NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY 63,571 PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN THE FIRST DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE. THAT NUMBER INCLUDES HEALTH CARE WORKERS FIGHTING THE VIRUS AND LONG TERM CARE STAFF AND RESIDENTS. THE VACCINATION TOTALS WILL BE UPDATED TOMORROW. >> GEORGIA IS REPORTING MORE THAN 591,000 CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19 IN THE STATE. THEY'RE ALSO REPORTING SEVEN ADDITIONAL DEATHS OF PEOPLE WITH THE VIRUS BRINGING THE TOTAL NOW TO OVE

COVID-19 vaccine in South Carolina: DHEC gives update on how distribution is going

43,227 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine given to people in phase 1A as of Monday

Updated: 4:44 PM EST Jan 4, 2021

"Step up by stepping back" was the message from South Carolina health officials on Monday. During a Monday news conference, Department of Health and Environmental Control interim public health director Dr. Brannon Traxler said they are asking people to be patient and wait their turn for the vaccine. COVID Vaccine FAQ's Traxler said the state is receiving its first shipment (16,575 doses) of the second round doses this week. These doses are for people who already received their first dose 21 days ago. She said as of Monday the state has administered 43,227 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to people in phase 1A. Traxler said the state is anticipating it will move into phase 1B "sometime in February."Traxler was asked why there was a delay in getting the vaccine to folks. She explained the ultra-cold storage of the vaccine provided complexities. Traxler also said it simply takes a few weeks to get into a rhythm but anticipates that will happen soon. She said the phase that includes the general public should begin in late spring and continue into the summer.When asked when people will be notified that it is their turn for the vaccine, Traxler said to wait on a notification. The information will be updated on the DHEC website as well as with the media. Traxler stressed that while you are waiting for the vaccine it is important to wash hands, wear a mask and social distance. "We can't stress enough how essential it is for each one of us to continue to practice those daily and even hourly precautions that help protect everyone," Traxler said. January 4, 2021: Latest data from DHEC New Confirmed Cases (click on link to see specific cases by county) : 3,492Total Confirmed Cases: 299,685New Probable Cases: 18Total Probable Cases: 25,787New Confirmed Deaths (click on the link to see specific deaths by county) : 15Total Confirmed Deaths: 5,056New Probable Deaths: 1Total Probable Deaths: 428Individual Test Results: 10,481Percent Positive: 33.3%Total Tests: 3,797,802Hospitalization update here

"Step up by stepping back" was the message from South Carolina health officials on Monday.

During a Monday news conference, Department of Health and Environmental Control interim public health director Dr. Brannon Traxler said they are asking people to be patient and wait their turn for the vaccine.

COVID Vaccine FAQ's

Traxler said the state is receiving its first shipment (16,575 doses) of the second round doses this week. These doses are for people who already received their first dose 21 days ago.

She said as of Monday the state has administered 43,227 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to people in phase 1A.

Traxler said the state is anticipating it will move into phase 1B "sometime in February."

Traxler was asked why there was a delay in getting the vaccine to folks. She explained the ultra-cold storage of the vaccine provided complexities. Traxler also said it simply takes a few weeks to get into a rhythm but anticipates that will happen soon.

She said the phase that includes the general public should begin in late spring and continue into the summer.

When asked when people will be notified that it is their turn for the vaccine, Traxler said to wait on a notification. The information will be updated on the DHEC website as well as with the media.

Traxler stressed that while you are waiting for the vaccine it is important to wash hands, wear a mask and social distance.

"We can't stress enough how essential it is for each one of us to continue to practice those daily and even hourly precautions that help protect everyone," Traxler said.

More here:

COVID-19 vaccine in South Carolina: DHEC gives update on how distribution is going - WYFF4 Greenville