In a news release on Thursday, Prisma Health announced that they aim to provide 10,000 coronavirus vaccines every day starting next week at their vaccination sites.
As more supplies become available in South Carolina, Prisma officials said their high-volume community vaccine centers in Columbia and Greenville would further expand access to vaccines.
“We are mobilizing multiple resources across our system in order to help provide vaccines – as well as continue providing leading-edge care to patients with COVID-19 – as part of this unprecedented event, the largest vaccination process in the history of our country,” said Dr. Saria Saccocio, the chief ambulatory medical officer for Prisma Health and the co-chair of its COVID-19 vaccine task force. “We are very encouraged that so many people want to receive their vaccines.”
Prisma Health started vaccinating people over 70 years of age on Wednesday who had already completed the Vaccine Administration Management Scheme of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (VAMS).
Prisma Health also noted that their plans also entail the use of mobile health clinics to help distribute vaccines to rural areas in the state. By the end of February, some of these new vans might be ready.
“Please know that Prisma Health and other healthcare providers across South Carolina are working very hard on implementation details in a rapidly evolving environment,” said Saccocio. “We continue to ask for the community’s patience. Please be assured that we are moving as quickly as we can with our current vaccine supply.”
If you are eligible for the vaccine, you can fill out an online form at www.PrismaHealth.org/Vaccine. You will receive a notification to make an appointment directly via CDC’s Vaccine Administration Management System or VAMS when the vaccine supply is available. A unique email address is required because the CDC will send an email link for the registration.
Walk-ins are not allowed as CDC VAMS registration is required to monitor vaccination and to provide follow-up for the second dose.
Individuals who do not have access to a computer or who do not have an individual email address in the 70+ age group should call 833-2PRISMA (833-277-4762) for assistance.
Individual Prisma Health physician practices, pharmacies, and hospitals cannot schedule people for a vaccine.
Prisma Health reminds that for 95% vaccine efficacy, a second dose is still needed. The risk of infection is still high even after the first dose has been administered. It is strongly advised to continue social distancing, wear a mask in public when around others, wash hands frequently, avoid group meetings, and stay at home when feeling sick.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.