South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control officials are hoping demand for COVID-19 vaccination will start increasing.
Dr. Brannon Traxler said the Palmetto State continues to have more doses of vaccine than they have arms lining up for the shots.
She said too many people remain skeptical or distrusting of the vaccine.
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“There’s a lot of misinformation still being spread. I urge people to get the facts from a reliable source like their health care provider,” she said.
The latest DHEC briefing comes as local health officials continue to wait for decisions on several topics, including when children age 12-15 can start getting vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine.
Pfizer will also start sending data to the FDA, trying to get full approval for its vaccine. Currently Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have emergency use authorization.
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Dr. Traxler is hoping the full approval may reassure people about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine.
There also remains the question of whether booster shots will be needed and when.
DHEC is watching new case numbers in the state but also tracking how many people are hospitalized and how many are in intensive care units. South Carolina still has a positivity rate around 5%. Dr. Traxler would like to see that drop to 2% to 3%.
“In the end, South Carolinians have to step up and get vaccinated,” said Dr. Traxler.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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