VACCINE Q&A: Which vaccine phase will I be in?

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control continues to finalize plans for future phases of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

But here’s a look at who they plan to include in the various phases and estimates of when those phases will open for vaccine appointments, based on DHEC’s website.

Phase 1A mission-critical workers and individuals include:

70+ year-olds, regardless of health status or preexisting conditions
As of Monday, people 65 and over, regardless of health status or preexisting conditions, will be eligible to receive the vaccine
Anesthesiology assistants, registered cardiovascular invasive specialists, and operating room staff
Athletic Trainers
American Sign Language and other interpreters in healthcare facilities
Autopsy room staff, coroners, embalmers, and funeral home staff at risk of exposure to bodily fluids
Chiropractors
Dentists and dental hygienists and technicians
Dietary and food services staff in healthcare facilities
Environmental services staff in healthcare facilities
Harbor pilots
Home caregivers for children who have a tracheostomy, are ventilator-dependent or who have a Medically Complex Children’s Waiver. The Medically Complex Children’s Waiver is a statewide program to serve children who meet either Nursing Facility or Intermediate Care Facility-Intellectually Disabled level of care and medical criteria. Requires a medical provider’s signed attestation to confirm caregiver meets criteria.
Home health and hospice workers
Hospital transport personnel
Hospital inpatients 65 and older
Laboratory personnel and phlebotomists
Licensed dietitians
Long-Term Care Facility residents and staff
Medical assistants
Medical first responders (paid and volunteer): EMS; fire department and law enforcement personnel who provide emergency medical care
Nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse’s aides/ assistants
Opticians and optometrists and assistants/ technicians
Persons providing medical care in correctional facilities and correctional officers
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
Physical and occupational therapists and assistants
Physicians, including medical house staff (i.e., interns, residents, fellows), and physician assistants
Podiatrists
Public health healthcare workers who are frequently interacting with persons with potential COVID-19 infection
Radiology technicians
Respiratory care practitioners, such as respiratory therapists
Speech language pathologists and assistants and audiologists
State/local government employees and their contractors who are mission-critical for maintaining operations of COVID-19 vaccinations and testing in SC
Students and interns of the above categories

DHEC estimates 987,039 people in South Carolina fall into this phase.

For the remaining phases, the exact timing and makeup of each phase could change because of vaccine availability, demand, and provider participation.

Frontline essential workers in Phase 1B are expected to include:

Firefighters
Law enforcement officers
Corrections officers
Food and agricultural workers
USPS workers
Manufacturing workers
Grocery store workers
Public transit workers,
Those who work in the educational sector—teachers, support staff, and daycare workers.

Frontline essential workers are only those considered at highest risk for work-related exposure to SARS-CoV-2 who experience unavoidable, substantially increased risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

DHEC estimates there are approximately 573,501 people in this phase.

DHEC says Phase 1C will open up vaccine eligibility to the largest number of people of the earlier phases.

People aged 16 and older with certain underlying health conditions (as compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) that puts them at high risk for severe disease:
Other essential workers (expected to include):

DHEC estimates this group to include nearly 2.9 million people in South Carolina.

Phase 2 vaccinations are expected to begin in the summer, with vaccines expected to become available for the general public during the summer and fall. Phase 2 will include all people who wish to be vaccinated.

DHEC estimates this remaining group to comprise some 690,000 in South Carolina.