COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on Feb. 6

We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.

DHEC reports lowest positive percent in months

On Saturday, 7.8% of COVID-19 tests were positive, according to state health officials, which is the lowest positive percent in months. Health officials have said that number should be closer to 5% to control the spread of the virus.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control on Saturday reported 1,925 new COVID-19 cases, down from 2,745 reported the day before. Fifty-two additional deaths were reported. At least 1,600 people were hospitalized with the coronavirus in South Carolina as of Saturday.

At least 410,639 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in South Carolina since March and 6,816 have died, according to state health officials.

DHEC also reported that more than half a million doses of the coronavirus vaccine had been administered by Saturday.

A total of 779,200 COVID vaccine doses had been delivered to the state and 503,913 shots had been administered as of Saturday, DHEC reported.

Myrtle Beach event vaccinates almost 2,000

McLeod Health Seacoast hospital system organized an event in Myrtle Beach which drew thousands of seniors hoping to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The event was organized first-come, first-serve style and was aimed at helping seniors who have struggled with making appointments on the computer or over the phone.

McLeod Health planned to give about 1,700 people their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine Saturday. This is one of the largest mass vaccination events hosted in Horry County so far, and it began with almost no hiccups.

Vaccine sign-up help is ‘saving us from dying’

With many struggling to sign up to get a COVID-19 vaccine, some South Carolina hospitals are launching initiatives to help people navigate the often difficult process, the Island Packet reported.

Many hospitals rely on the Vaccine Administration Management System, VAMS, which doubles as an appointment scheduling tool — but not a user-friendly one.

“Nobody could register in VAMS,” said Lisa Hensley, Hilton Head Regional Healthcare system’s market director of clinical informatics. Patients “had given up (on) getting the vaccine because the technical aspects were difficult to navigate.”

The health care system’s initiative to assist Lowcountry seniors with technology challenges has so far shepherded more than 200 people through the registration process.

Anna Maria Tabernik, a Sun City resident board member, recently partnered with Hilton Head Regional to hold a public event in which health workers created email accounts for residents and registered them to be vaccinated using VAMS.

“When you have people in their late 70s, 80s, 90s, they’re not running around with smartphones, they don’t have laptops, they don’t have iPads, so they can’t even ... some of them don’t have an email, so forget about VAMS for them,” Tabernik said.

The initiative has since expanded, with events held at community centers around the area.

“You’re saving us from dying,” one resident told Tabernik.

Meanwhile, the state is trying to make VAMS easier to use and has launched a help line of its own, which can be reached at 866-365-8110.

New DHEC director open to changing vaccine priority list

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control’s new director says South Carolina should consider changing how it prioritizes who gets a COVID-19 vaccine first, The State reported.

The current vaccination plan relies on population size, and counties determining how many doses they need per capita. Critics say that it doesn’t take other important factors into consideration, like which communities have higher proportions of vulnerable populations.

“We need to get the vaccine to where people are who need the vaccine,’’ Edward Simmer said. “I do think we need to look at not just .... total population, but what is the total eligible population at that point in time.’’

Simmer said he will look to the legislature to make changes, and if they don’t, he will discuss making changes with the DHEC board.

The director also said he sees teachers and school staff as high priority, but didn’t go as far as saying they should come out ahead of elderly populations who are already eligible.

“We have to balance that with who doesn’t get the vaccine if we prioritize them,’’ Simmer said. “That’s what we really need to look at. I think we’re doing that now. We don’t have a final answer yet. But that’s going to be the question..’’

This story was originally published February 6, 2021 at 7:15 AM.