Mass clinic in Sumter reducing its hours for COVID-19 vaccine

Focus shifts to physicians giving COVID-19 shots

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As access to COVID-19 vaccines grows and the initial demand has seemingly leveled off, certain mass vaccination sites are altering hours to adjust to that reduced traffic.

Prisma Health, which had administered nearly 400,000 vaccine shots as of Friday, is reducing its hours of operation at the Sumter County Civic Center to Wednesday-Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Rick Scott, chair of Prisma Health's vaccine task force, said the system has started vaccinating patients in selected physician offices in the past few weeks, a move seen across the country.

"The initial physician practices were selected based on their availability of a pharmacist to assist. At those practices, clinical staff will have the opportunity to talk with patients about receiving the vaccine and then schedule them to receive vaccination in their office. Prisma Health hopes to expand to more physicians' offices as soon as possible," Scott said.

The move is seen as a way to encourage those who are still hesitant about getting a vaccine and allow community members to first talk with their physician, who they may trust more, about their concerns and to clear up any misconceptions or misinformation.

"Since we are seeing more vaccine hesitancy in the community, this is a great time to be able to offer this. We know that some community members are waiting for full Food and Drug Administration approval, although the safety and effectiveness of these vaccines are already quite clear. Vaccination is our best way to get back to normal and enjoy a great summer knowing that we are protecting ourselves and each other by doing so," Scott said.

The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for ages 12 and up.

About 40% of South Carolina's nearly 4.3 million residents who are 12 or older have been fully vaccinated, including 23,942 from Sumter County, according to state public health data. More than 31,500 Sumterites have received at least one dose of a vaccine out of more than 89,600 who are 12 or older.

As of Monday, more than 8,500 South Carolinians' deaths have been attributed to COVID-19, including 172 from Sumter County.

For a full list of vaccine sites in South Carolina, visit scdhec.gov/vaxlocator.