TALKING WITH PATIENTS ABOUT COVID-19 VACCINES
COVID-19 Education & Outreach Materials
DHEC provides flyers, posters, fact sheets, handouts, PSAs, social media graphics and more that help share factual, important information in English and Spanish about COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines. Access our Education & Outreach materials here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates
- Pfizer Tris Shelf-Life Extension Approved (April 20, 2022)
- Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Uninsured Program Closes (March 30, 2022)
- Additional COVID-19 Booster Dose for Ages 50+ and Immunocompromised (March 30, 2022)
- New Provider Enrollment Platform for COVID (March 9, 2022)
- Janssen Shelf Life Extended (March 9, 2022)
- Ordering Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine (Feb. 23, 2022)
- Vaccine Ordering - Weather and Holiday Guidance (Feb. 3, 2022)
- Important Guidance Regarding Vaccine Ordering (Jan. 27, 2022)
- Important Guidance Regarding Vaccine Ordering (Jan. 21, 2022)
- Winter Weather Guidance (Jan. 12. 2022)
- Update on Booster Intervals (Jan. 10, 2022)
- New Adolescent Booster Guidance (Jan. 6, 2022)
- Pfizer Booster for 16+ (Dec. 9, 2021)
- Holiday Order Schedule (Dec. 8, 2021)
- Pfizer Shelf-Life Extension (Dec. 7, 2021)
- Pfizer Tris for Adults and Adolescents (Dec. 6, 2021)
- Booster Shots for 18+ (Nov. 19, 2021)
- Pediatric Pfizer Authorization (Nov. 3, 2021)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates (Sept. 1, 2021)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates (Aug. 25, 2021)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates (Aug. 11, 2021)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates (Aug. 4, 2021)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates (July 28, 2021)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates (July 21, 2021)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates (July 14, 2021)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates (July 7, 2021)
- COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Updates (June 30, 2021)
COVID-19 Grand Rounds for Clinicians and Vaccine Providers
The Infectious Diseases Division of Prisma Health Medical Group in collaboration with the South Carolina Medical Association, South Carolina Hospital Association, University of South Carolina, and DHEC provides a weekly COVID-19 Virtual Grand Rounds Series. This educational activity is free of charge and offers Continuing Education credits (CEU) for physicians, nurses, and pharmacists. (CEU credit is available only for those joining presentations live, not for viewing archived recordings.) This series addresses a variety of topics around SARS-Co-V-2 and COVID-19 disease. Presenters include DHEC leadership, clinicians, and Health Care Administrators.
To join these sessions live (Tuesdays 12-1 p.m.) visit www.seaetc.com, create a free account, and view calendar for upcoming presentations. You need to register for each presentation. To view previously recorded sessions, visit www.scahec.net/learn/programs and in the "Series" drop-down menu select "COVID-19 Virtual Grand Rounds."
Guidance for COVID-19 Allocation
- DHEC Supports CDC Recommendation for All Vaccinated Adults to Get Their COVID-19 Booster Shot (Nov. 23, 2021)
- DHEC Supports CDC’s Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Approval for Ages 5-11, Urges Parents to Get Their Children Vaccinated (Nov. 3, 2021)
- CDC Expands COVID-19 Booster Availability To Moderna, Pfizer Vaccines (Oct. 22, 2021)
- Public Notice: DHEC Does Not Issue Adult Vaccine Exemptions (Oct. 5, 2021)
- DHEC Supports CDC’s Recommendation for Pfizer Brand COVID-19 Booster Shots for High-Risk Populations (Sept. 24, 2021)
- DHEC’s Dr. Simmer: “Full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine further indicates how safe and effective the vaccines are at preventing severe illness from COVID-19” (Aug. 23, 2021)
- Joint Statement Recommends COVID-19 Vaccinations for All Pregnant Women in South Carolina (Aug. 12, 2021)
- DHEC Supports U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on COVID-19 Vaccinations, Rejecting Misinformation (July 20, 2021)
- South Carolinians Age 12 and Older can Receive the Pfizer Vaccine (May 12, 2021)
- All South Carolinians age 16 and older can receive vaccine (March 31, 2021)
- Guidance to Enrolled COVID-19 Vaccine Providers (Jan. 17, 2021)
- Phase 1A Guidance for COVID-19 Allocation
- Letter to Mission Critical Workers
COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Enrollment
To receive and administer COVID-19 vaccine and supplies, providers have to enroll in a federal vaccine distribution program, coordinated through the state's immunization program (unless they are part of a national chain that registered directly with the CDC). The federal government will procure and distribute the vaccine at no cost to enrolled providers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Vaccination Providers Enrollment
We will continue to update this information to provide the most factual and current information. Click here to view frequently asked questions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Vaccination Reimbursement
We will continue to update this information to provide the most factual and current information. Click here to view frequently asked questions.
SIMON for Vaccine Providers
South Carolina's Statewide Immunization Online Network (SIMON) launched September 13, 2020, as a new immunization information system that will help the agency and immunization providers ensure access and availability of essential immunizations to help keep South Carolinians healthy. Access SIMON scdhec.gov/SIMON.
Inventory Reporting Requirement for Enrolled COVID-19 Providers
The COVID-19 Vaccination Program Provider Agreement requires providers to report vaccine supply information as directed by CDC. Locations receiving COVID-19 vaccine should report supply information to VaccineFinder using the online COVID Locating Health Provider Portal. Vaccination providers can report manually via the secure COVID Locating Health Provider Portal, or via an automated secure data transfer directly to the COVID Locating Health Platform. Questions? Please email VAMS@dhec.sc.gov
Additional helpful resources and information:
- CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Provider Support, Data and Reporting
- VaccineFinder COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Information website (includes video trainings)
- Quick Start Guide for VaccineFinder Provider Setup
- COVID Locating Health Provider Portal Training for Providers
- Quick Start Guide VaccineFinder Inventory Reporting - Log Manually
- Quick Start Guide VaccineFinder Inventory Reporting - File Upload
Vaccine Administration Management Systems (VAMS)
VAMS is a secure, web-based tool built to help DHEC, vaccination clinics, organizations/employers, and vaccine recipients manage COVID-19 vaccination efforts. It supports operations and data collection and tracking to meet CDC, Operation Warp Speed (OWS), and South Carolina DHEC COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Activated providers will receive detailed instructions related to VAMS Onboarding in their activation notification email.
Resources:
VAMS Readiness Checklists
- VAMS Clinic Administrator Checklist (04.29.21)
- VAMS Organization Coordinator Checklist (04.29.21)
Standard & Mobile Clinics
- VAMS Clinic Data Reports (3.17.21)
- Clinic Appointment Reservation Demo Recording (02.05.21)
- VAMS Standard and Mobile Clinic Administrator User Manual (04.29.21)
- VAMS Standard and Mobile Clinic Healthcare Professional User Manual (04.29.21)
- VAMS Documenting Vaccinations in Standard and Mobile Clinics Reference Guide (PDF) (Feb 2021)
- VAMS Clinic Setup Quick Reference Guide
- VAMS Front Desk User Manual (PDF) (04.29.21)
- Standard & Mobile Clinics Training Video-Part 1 (02.18.21)
- Standard & Mobile Clinics Training Video-Part 2 (02.18.21)
Third Party Clinics
- VAMS Clinic Data Reports (3.17.21)
- Third Party Clinic Training (VIDEO) (01.28.21)
- VAMS Third Party Clinic Administrator User Manual (PDF) (04.29.21)
- VAMS Third-party Clinic Healthcare Professional User Manual (PDF) (04.29.21)
- VAMS Third Party Clinic Set-up Guide (02.03.21)
Inventory Manager
- VAMS Inventory Manager User Manual (PDF) (04.29.21)
- VAMS Inventory Management Training video (Jan 2021)
- VAMS Inventory Management Process Update Slide Deck (Jan 2021)
Organization Coordinator
Recipient
- VAMS Recipient User Manual (04.29.21)
- Recipient Registration and Scheduling Quick Reference Guide (02.24.21)
Questions? Please email VAMS@dhec.sc.gov
COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Training and Information Resources
CDC has developed a robust resource portfolio of COVID-19 vaccination resources for vaccine providers. Follow this link to view resources on patient education materials, COVID-19 vaccine training modules, and COVID-19 vaccine storage and handling.
- CDC Supplemental COVID-19 Vaccine Redistribution Agreement (PDF)
- South Carolina COVID-19 Transport Log (PDF)
- Janssen, Moderna & Pfizer Product Information Guide (PDF) 05.06.21
- COVID-19 Vaccine Inventory Request, Management and Delivery Cadence V. 5 03.19.21 (PDF)
- COVID-19 Program Reporting Reminders At-a-Glance
- Vaccine Safety: VAERS - Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System
- Vaccine Safety: v-safe after vaccination health checker
Reporting Temperature Excursions COVID-19 Vaccines
- Temperature Excursion Form
- Reporting a Temperature Excursion For COVID-19 Vaccines Online Guidance (PDF)