Friday, February 19, 2021
This page will be updated regularly as information becomes available.
What Phase am I in?
Our top priority is to save lives. Everyone will have a chance to get the vaccine. However, the number of doses is currently limited in South Carolina like in all states. We ask everyone to please be patient, learn what phase you’re in and follow the guidance of our public health officials. This will allow public health officials to ensure those at highest risk and those who keep us alive are vaccinated first.p
To support this effort, vaccine distribution is occurring in a phased approach. The following outline provides an overview of the anticipated categories and time for each phase. This is subject to change at any time for many reasons, such as a change in federal guidance or in the VAC’s recommendations for South Carolina.
*All time estimates are subject to change due to vaccine availability, demand, and provider participation.
Phase 1b includes:
- Frontline essential workers
- Sectors included by ACIP: firefighters, law enforcement officers, corrections officers, food and agricultural workers, USPS workers, manufacturing workers, grocery store workers, public transit workers, and those who work in the educational sector—teachers, support staff, and daycare workers.
- Frontline essential workers are only those considered at highest risk for work-related exposure to SARS-CoV-2 who experience unavoidable, substantially increased risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2.
Estimated Population of Phase 1b: 573,501
*All time estimates are subject to change due to vaccine availability, demand, and provider participation.
Phase 1c includes:
- People aged 16 and older with certain underlying health conditions that puts them at high risk for severe disease (list by CDC)
- Other essential workers
- Examples included by ACIP: people who work in transportation and logistics, food service, housing construction and finance, information technology, communications, energy, law, media, public safety, and public health staff who are non-frontline healthcare workers
Estimated Population of Phase 1c: 2,588,320
*All time estimates are subject to change due to vaccine availability, demand, and provider participation.
Phase 2 includes:
- ALL people who wish to be vaccinated
- Ages per recommendations by ACIP
Estimated Population of Phase 2: 690,648
Phase 2 vaccinations are anticipated to begin in Summer 2021, with the vaccines expected to become available for the general public during the summer and fall of 2021.
What Should I Do Now?
Everyone will have a chance to get the vaccine. We call on all South Carolinians to continue to stand together to fight this disease by taking small steps that make a big difference:
- Wearing your mask
- Getting tested and staying home when you’re sick
- Avoiding large gatherings
- Practicing physical distancing
Vaccine Updates
Previous Vaccine Updates
- February 19, 2021 - DHEC COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Q&A with Dr. Linda Bell - (YouTube)
- February 17, 2021 - DHEC COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Q&A with Dr. Linda Bell - (YouTube)
- February 12, 2021 - DHEC COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Q&A with Dr. Linda Bell - (YouTube)
- February 10, 2021 - DHEC COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Q&A with Dr. Linda Bell - (YouTube)
- February 8, 2021 - DHEC COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Q&A with Dr. Michael Kacka - (YouTube)
- February 5, 2021 - DHEC COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Q&A with Nick Davidson - (YouTube)
- February 3, 2021 - DHEC COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Q&A with Dr. Michael Kacka - (YouTube)
- February 1, 2021 - DHEC COVID-19 Vaccine Update and Q&A with Dr. Michael Kacka - (YouTube)
Contact Us
- For questions relating to...
COVID-19 provider enrollment, please email: COVIDproviderenrollment@dhec.sc.gov - If you are an immunization provider with questions related to the...
Vaccine Administration Management System, please email: VAMS@dhec.sc.gov