Gov. Henry McMaster said his administration is doing what it can to urge hospitals to speed up statewide administration of their COVID-19 vaccine supply after a visit to Greenville Thursday morning. “They get a first dose shipment one week and that same week they get a second dose shipment,” McMaster said of South Carolina hospitals. “Use them all up. Don’t keep any on the shelf. Get the people in as quickly as we can.” His message came as hundreds of Greenville County residents received their first doses of the vaccine at Prisma Health’s vaccination facility in Greenville at the old Kmart Thursday. Some people there said they never saw the parking lot so crowded. Lines grew into the afternoon, stretching outside along the front of the building. Right now, vaccinations are open to people age 70 and older. Prisma Health encourages appointments through VAMS. Gloria Duckett and her husband, of Greenville, scheduled their appointment for Thursday. They were done by the early afternoon. “I just thank God that my husband and I were able to get in and do it,” she said. “It ran smoothly. We were in and out in about 45 (minutes) to an hour and that wasn’t bad with all the people that are here,” she said. Prisma Health said if you’re having trouble registering, you can walk in to receive the vaccine without a scheduled appointment. That’s what Walt and Jean Miller did. Walt already received his vaccination, but he and Jean went together so she could have hers. They waited in line for about an hour Thursday morning. “We got through it pretty fast,” Walt said. “It was good. Everybody was pretty well staying separated and everybody wore their mask.” “I was trying to get it sooner to be closer to him and I did, so we’re fine,” Jean said. Prisma Health said it is maintaining social distancing and mask wearing for people while inside. People who went inside the building said chairs are also available to sit in while waiting. But outside, some people had concerns. “What I’m observing is that people seem to have totally forgotten about the separation,” said Dennis Anderson, of Greenville. “I’m looking at the large lines of people right close to each other, plus the huge number of people in the building. “There have to be affected people in that group,” he said. McMaster urged patience for all South Carolinians who haven’t yet been vaccinated. “I think that you’re gonna see some more progress in South Carolina, but eventually we need more vaccine and I’m confident that that’s coming, but probably won’t be until March or so,” he said. When asked, McMaster also said he doesn’t see any immediate major changes to vaccine distribution or supply with President Joe Biden’s administration.
GREENVILLE, S.C. —
Gov. Henry McMaster said his administration is doing what it can to urge hospitals to speed up statewide administration of their COVID-19 vaccine supply after a visit to Greenville Thursday morning.
“They get a first dose shipment one week and that same week they get a second dose shipment,” McMaster said of South Carolina hospitals. “Use them all up. Don’t keep any on the shelf. Get the people in as quickly as we can.”
His message came as hundreds of Greenville County residents received their first doses of the vaccine at Prisma Health’s vaccination facility in Greenville at the old Kmart Thursday.
Some people there said they never saw the parking lot so crowded.
Lines grew into the afternoon, stretching outside along the front of the building.
Right now, vaccinations are open to people age 70 and older. Prisma Health encourages appointments through VAMS.
Gloria Duckett and her husband, of Greenville, scheduled their appointment for Thursday. They were done by the early afternoon.
“I just thank God that my husband and I were able to get in and do it,” she said.
“It ran smoothly. We were in and out in about 45 (minutes) to an hour and that wasn’t bad with all the people that are here,” she said.
Prisma Health said if you’re having trouble registering, you can walk in to receive the vaccine without a scheduled appointment.
That’s what Walt and Jean Miller did.
Walt already received his vaccination, but he and Jean went together so she could have hers.
They waited in line for about an hour Thursday morning.
“We got through it pretty fast,” Walt said.
“It was good. Everybody was pretty well staying separated and everybody wore their mask.”
“I was trying to get it sooner to be closer to him and I did, so we’re fine,” Jean said.
Prisma Health said it is maintaining social distancing and mask wearing for people while inside.
People who went inside the building said chairs are also available to sit in while waiting.
But outside, some people had concerns.
“What I’m observing is that people seem to have totally forgotten about the separation,” said Dennis Anderson, of Greenville. “I’m looking at the large lines of people right close to each other, plus the huge number of people in the building.
“There have to be affected people in that group,” he said.
McMaster urged patience for all South Carolinians who haven’t yet been vaccinated.
“I think that you’re gonna see some more progress in South Carolina, but eventually we need more vaccine and I’m confident that that’s coming, but probably won’t be until March or so,” he said.
When asked, McMaster also said he doesn’t see any immediate major changes to vaccine distribution or supply with President Joe Biden’s administration.
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