COVID vaccine live updates: Here’s what to know in South Carolina on May 22
We’re tracking the most up-to-date information about the coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccines in South Carolina. Check back for updates.
About 200 new cases reported
At least 490,176 people have tested with confirms positives for the coronavirus in South Carolina and 8,517 confirmed deaths have happened since March 2020, according to state health officials.
The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported 205 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, up from 281 reported the day before.
Four coronavirus-related deaths were also reported.
At least 297 people were reported hospitalized with COVID-19 on Friday, with 92 patients in intensive care units.
As of Saturday, 2.3% of COVID-19 tests were reported positive. Health officials say 5% or lower indicates a low risk of community spread.
More than 1.5 million South Carolina residents, or 35%, have completed vaccination against COVID-19, and more than 1.8 million, or 43%, have received at least one dose, as of Tuesday.
Why are some SC residents refusing vaccination?
A little over one-third of South Carolinians 12 older have completed COVID-19 vaccination, but many residents are choosing to pass, The State reported.
Health officials say vaccine hesitancy is becoming a bigger problem in the effort to end the pandemic, so understanding the reasons why people are opting not to do so may be critical moving forward.
But experts say vaccine hesitant Americans are not a monolith — their reasons for avoiding vaccination often differ, and they are people from a wider variety of demographic groups than many might assume.
“I very seldom get sick on anything, so why do I want to take a chance on it?” 64-year-old Marcus Polk told The State.
The construction site safety engineer, who lives in Winnsboro, said he doesn’t trust the vaccines because he believes they were too rushed. And in rare instances, vaccinated individuals still catch the coronavirus, so it doesn’t seem worth it to him.
“Even now with (case) numbers going down, I still don’t plan on getting it,” Polk said.
This story was originally published May 22, 2021 at 6:58 AM.