Daniel Prince
Union County still has one of the lowest vaccination rates in SC
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control announced Thursday that the state has officially reached a 50% vaccination rate among eligible residents. Half the residents had received at least one shot back in July, but now half the state’s eligible population is fully vaccinated.
In a statement, Governor Henry McMaster said, “We’ve reached an important milestone with over 50% of eligible South Carolinians making the decision to get vaccinated, but the reemergence of the virus shows that we have more work to do. Ultimately, the decision to get vaccinated or not is a personal one, but I would ask every South Carolinian to consult your doctor and speak with trusted family and friends in order to make the most educated decision possible. Two things are clear – the most effective way to protect ourselves from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and the vaccine is readily available in every part of the state. If you decide to get vaccinated after thoughtful consideration of all the facts, now is the time to do it.”
Union County still trails the state average in vaccination rate. Out of an estimated eligible population of 23,645, a little more than 11,000 have had at least one shot. That represents 47.1% of the eligible population. 9383 are considered fully vaccinated, which is 39.7% of the eligible population. Union County has the 5th-lowest vaccination rate in the state.
There will be two opportunities this weekend to get vaccinated if you want. DHEC will be at tonight’s Union County High School football game from 7:30-9:30 p.m. They will also be at the Union County Farm Show at the fairgrounds Saturday from 9-2. They will be giving the Pfizer vaccine, which can be given to ages 12 and older. As an added incentive, vaccine recipients will be entered to win a new TV and a YETI cooler.