Sumter veterans receive free lunch, transportation at Prisma Health Tuomey weeklong vaccine clinic

Patriotic tunes blasted while a hot grill sizzled outside the Sumter County Civic Center on Monday for local veterans who received their COVID-19 vaccine at a week-long veterans-focused vaccination clinic.

The walk-in clinic run by Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, but between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday this week, it will be providing veterans and their families with a clinic specifically geared for them.

"We're excited," said Valerie Brunson, director of Sumter County Veteran Affairs. "We'll be out here all week promoting veterans' vaccinations."

In partnership with Sumter County Government, Santee Wateree RTA and Sumter Combat Veterans Group, veterans were given vaccinations along with a free lunch and transportation during the visit.

According to Brunson, most veterans in the county have been vaccinated, but there are still some who are hesitant to get vaccinated as well as lacked transportation to get to the clinics.

"Many of them have had it, but for those who haven't, we just want to encourage them," she said. "There's nothing like veterans encouraging other veterans to get vaccinated so we can get back to a somewhat normal life."

The idea to create the veterans-focused clinic came from Sumter County Chairman Jim McCain.

"There has been some concern on county council because of our veterans in Sumter County that have been dying of COVID, and I came up with the idea of contacting Valerie Brunson to have a veterans-focused clinic," he said. "We're just trying to get vaccinations in arms."

He also organized the free transportation provided by Santee Wateree RTA.

"It's just a service for the community," McCain said. "We're trying to focus on the veterans, which are a big part of Sumter."

Brunson said there are more than 16,000 veterans who reside in Sumter County that they hope to reach out to with this week-long event.

"Of course, we want everybody in the whole county to get vaccinated," she said, "but veterans, because they served our country honorably and they fought for our freedoms, I think we need to do something special for them in Sumter."

Veterans who receive their vaccinations this week can expect visitors from Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity members, the Columbia Vet Center and representatives from Sumter County Veterans Affairs, the Columbia Regional VA office and Sumter Combat Vets outside the clinic.

Mary Glass, a veteran and member of the Sumter Combat Veterans Group, was sitting outside the civic center Monday ready to greet veterans who received their first dose.

"The more people vaccinated, the more we can get back to a more normal life," she said. "Some people are still nervous and stuff, so we feel if you're vaccinated, you've got a little bit less to worry about."

"We're uncommon patriotism, that's our motto," Brunson said. "We're just showing some of that out here this week towards our veterans and their families."

Prisma Health will be distributing the Pfizer vaccine at the clinic, which requires two shots. Two of the three brands approved for use in the U.S. require two shots.

Veterans and their family members who are interested in receiving their COVID-19 vaccination can request a free ride to the civic center, at 700 W. Liberty St., by calling Santee Wateree RTA at (803) 934-0396.