Where SC’s 65-and-up can find COVID-19 shot appointments in York, Lancaster, Chester

Now that South Carolina has expanded its vaccine eligibility to those 65 and older, demand for the shot is higher than ever, officials said.

Monday, South Carolinians ages 65-69 could start signing up for vaccine appointments.

And before 10 a.m. the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control’s vaccine information line, which provides details on how to schedule appointments with nearby vaccine providers, had already received more than 3,000 calls, DHEC physician and chief medical officer Michael Kacka said during a media briefing Monday.

“Since the phone lines are open at 7 a.m., that’s about 1,000 calls an hour,” Kacka said. “We’ve activated all available phone agents to assist with handling the expected increase in calls with those 65 and older trying to make an appointments.”

South Carolinians can reach DHEC’s vaccine information line at 866-365-8110. DHEC has also set up an online locator tool for residents to find nearby providers.

Although appointments are filling up quickly, DHEC officials urge those eligible for and want the vaccine to check its online locator daily as the agency updates the site on a “very frequent basis multiple times a day,” DHEC’s director of immunizations Stephen White said.

“When your demand of the vaccine far exceeds the supply of the state, it becomes a challenge being able to find out who has the capabilities of fulfilling appointments,” White said. “We do also hope that that we’ll in time be able to expand to larger numbers of providers. Until the vaccine supply increases, right now, we’re limited to the number of providers that we can enroll in the state’s COVID-19 program.”

Monday, DHEC officials acknowledged that South Carolina is among the “top 10 states with the oldest population,” which has hindered the state’s ability to move through its eligibility phases quickly, so officials urge South Carolinians to be patient as it works to distribute doses to providers.

“The CDC is distributing vaccines based on each state’s population, so, unfortunately, if you have a larger population shifted in that phase one you’re going to have more challenge getting the vaccine out,” Kacka said. “You’re going to have a larger population relative to other states that needs the vaccine.”

DHEC also has set up a Care Line at 1-855-472-3432 for residents looking for general information related to COVID-19.

Here’s where to get the coronavirus vaccine in and around York, Lancaster and Chester counties, according to DHEC’s locator tool.

Rock Hill Piedmont Medical Center Community Vaccination Clinic

Location:

• Galleria Mall, 2295 Dave Lyle Blvd., Rock Hill

How to schedule: Appointments are required. People can register for a slot online at Piedmont’s website or call the clinic at 803-980-2684. Residents can find more information on the city’s website.

MUSC-Health

Locations:

• Lancaster Hospital, 800 West Meeting St.
• Chester Hospital, 1 Medical Park Dr.

This story was originally published February 8, 2021 at 5:34 PM.

Cailyn Derickson

The Herald

Cailyn Derickson is a city government and politics reporter for The Herald, covering York, Chester and Lancaster counties. Cailyn graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has previously worked at The Pilot and The News and Observer.