South Carolina’s Vaccine Update

McMaster Reallocates

Gov. Henry McMaster demanded DHEC reallocate at least 37,800 vaccines from long term care facilities to other providers. McMaster claims the state’s long term care facilities have a surplus. Many states report that nursing home employees refuse the opportunity to get a vaccine shot.  Many nursing homes are still waiting for vaccines.

Experts are concerned that vaccination rates for nursing home employees are far lower than they should be. Many workers don’t want the vaccine. Industry experts estimate that at least 60% of employees are refusing to be vaccinated. However,  McMaster wants those vaccines to be made available to the general public now.

All five vaccines have eliminated Covid-19 deaths. They also drastically reduced hospitalizations.

South Carolina DHEC has added a new phone information line to help support people searching for vaccine provider information. The new vaccine information line launches today with 240 phone operators and is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information Line: 1-866-365-8110

Care Line: 1-855-472-3432

Profile in Courage

Meanwhile South Carolina Republicans issued a formal censure to U.S. Rep. Tom Rice because he followed his conscience. Rice voted in support of the second impeachment of former President Donald Trump. The article was for inciting the insurrection on Jan. 6 2021. Rice was among 10 brave GOP representatives who voted to impeach Trump for his role. The Senate trial will start in February.  Although Senators Tim scott and Lindsey Graham have already decided to acquit Trump before hearing any evidence

Rice said some in the GOP “have forgotten their very own creed, which states, ‘I will never cower before any master, save my God.’”

In 2009 and 2010, Republicans censured U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham for his willingness to work on bipartisan deals, with one county deriding Graham’s “condescending attitude” to the party’s grassroots organizers.