COLUMBIA, S.C. – The South Carolina National Guard vaccinated 76 Palmetto State citizens at the Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet on Jan. 7.
This is the first time the South Carolina National Guard has administered the COVID-19 vaccine to non-military personnel during its support of the state’s pandemic efforts.
“For more than 10 months the South Carolina National Guard has stood side-by-side with our state partners in providing critical support to state agencies, local health care providers, school districts, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Van McCarty, the adjutant general for South Carolina.
Since the SCNG was activated by Gov. Henry McMaster in March, members have assisted with COVID-19 testing of more than 242,179 patients across the state, helped provide medical surge personnel to 10 hospitals, medically screened 229 patients at six congregate care facilities and more than 346,100 inmates at 17 state corrections facilities, participated in 62 facility sanitation missions, delivered more than 18,139 meals, and distributed more than 200,000 masks, 31,968 shields, and 205,825 gloves.
“It’s been an honor for our more than 470 Soldiers on active-duty orders to support the citizens of South Carolina by assisting with mobile COVID-19 testing sites, school food distribution programs, medical screenings, hospital staffing, and vaccine logistics and administration,” said McCarty.
The adjutant general is a key member of the state’s COVID-19 Unified Command Group led by the governor in coordination with the South Carolina Emergency Management Division. In support of various state agencies, primarily the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the South Carolina National Guard continues to provide flexible support, shifting resources as necessary.
How the National Guard is helping
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