Area Medical Center Is continuing to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to those in phase 1A which includes staff members in close contact with those with the virus and first responders.
The hospital is opening a waiting list for the general public who are aged 70 and over, live in Abbeville or McCormick counties or who are patients of its the clinics to receive the vaccine.
Vaccinations are provided to the state by the federal government who then allocates them to hospitals. With the rapid expansion and huge community demand of those eligible to be vaccinated, hospitals are not receiving the amount of vaccine ordered. Shipments are also being delayed which is making scheduling appointments difficult.
“Last week, AAMC ordered 975 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine,” stated Cindy Buck, AAMC CEO. “We were made aware on Friday that we would be receiving only 125 doses which is making it difficult to schedule appointments.”
This number also includes 50 of the second doses needed to complete the vaccination process for those previously vaccinated, leaving only enough vaccine for 75 people. Shipments were expected to arrive Monday but have been delayed until Tuesday.
“We ask our community members for patience as we work through our processes,” stated Buck. “The number of individuals who want a vaccine far exceeds the number of vaccine doses we are receiving from the state.”
The hospital hopes the quantity of vaccine received will become more consistent as the state refines the allocation process.
AAMC has opened a stand-alone vaccination clinic to be able to efficiently handle the large volume of patients wanting the vaccine. It will also be offered at Due West Family Medicine as supplies allow.
Vaccinations will be available by appointment only. No walk ins will be accepted. Appointment requests are currently being accepted for those 70 and over by email. Please email the location at which you wish to receive your vaccination only once. Patients will be placed on a call list in the order requests are received. When vaccine allocation numbers are received for the following week appointments will be scheduled.
Abbeville: aahcvax@AbbevilleAreaMC.com
McCormick: slfmvax@AbbevilleAreaMC.com
Due West: dwfmvax@AbbevillleAreaMC.com
Currently, the South Carolina Governor has allowed only those in Phase 1A, those hospitalized age 65 and older, and those community members aged 70 and older to receive their vaccination.
