Rock Hill COVID vaccine clinic opens in Galleria Mall. What happened on the first day?
On the first day of a Covid vaccine clinic in Rock Hill, crowds sat in a specific area waiting to be called to a table of volunteers. Others lined up outside. They were there to receive the first of two Covid vaccines.
The tables were spread apart in the spacious former Goody’s and Home South stores at the back of the Galleria Mall.
The clinic is the first of its kind, according to state officials, and will operate Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments are required, and can be requested on Piedmont Medical Center’s website.
There also was an appearance Friday by S.C. Governor Henry McMaster.
“We’re fortunate to have vaccine at all, just after nine months, 10 months,” McMaster said. “That was quite a record to have any new vaccine developed in that short period of time, but we’ll be getting more... This is an excellent thing here because you have parking, you have a nice place... You have a bunch of very capable teams that are inside working. But I’m here to congratulate Piedmont on their success and their foresight in getting their team together and getting this done.”
He said he hopes the state will develop more clinics like the Rock Hill site.
“This is a success,” McMaster said. “This is a model, and we hope others will emulate this.”
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control 5th District Board Member Rick Lee said earlier this week that he hopes other communities will follow Rock Hill’s lead.
“(The clinic) is a model for other communities to follow if they choose to do the same thing,” Lee said.
McMaster also emphasized that as vaccines come, the state will work to maximize efficiency in distributing them.
Meanwhile, he said, “It’s going to take months to vaccinate everyone who wants to get vaccinated, so that means we have to keep wearing masks, remember to do all those things. Don’t let up on that.”
Eligibility for the vaccine will depend on the guidelines designated by DHEC. Currently, that means that medical care workers and those 70 or older are eligible.
Appointments will be offered weekly based on the amount of available doses. On Friday, the clinic had 500 doses and had ordered 2,000 additional doses, Lee said.
The clinic was planned by the city of Rock Hill, along with DHEC and Piedmont.
“Piedmont Medical Center is doing an outstanding job in getting people in and getting the doses in their arms,” McMaster said.
Officials felt that not enough vaccines were being distributed at Piedmont Medical Center and another location was necessary, Rock Hill Mayor John Gettys said Thursday. Gettys was instrumental in developing the clinic, McMaster said.
The clinic is served by volunteers, both medical professionals and people outside of the medical field. There are currently 51 volunteers. As more vaccines are allocated, hours will expand and more volunteers will be necessary, Gettys said.
Those interested in volunteering at the clinic can sign up on the city’s website.
The clinic was proposed by York County officials, led by S.C. Sen Wes Climer. Congressman Ralph Norman was involved as well -- his son Warren Norman’s company recently bought the Galleria and offered the location.
Check back as this story is developing.
This story was originally published January 22, 2021 at 2:28 PM.
