Makalya Hodson, 13, received her second dose of the coronavirus vaccine at Lexington Medical Center’s clinic on Summerplace Drive in West Columbia. She is one of more than 86,000 South Carolinians between 12 and 19 years old getting at least one shot.
“The shot didn’t hurt, and I didn’t have any symptoms, I just waited 15 minutes until anything came up and nothing came up,” said Makalya.
While thousands of people are signing up statewide, officials in the Midlands have seen an overall decrease in the number of doses administered. Lara Lott Moore, vice president of community medical centers of Lexington Medical Center said, “There was a huge demand with the older population in the very beginning and we were extremely busy, unfortunately we have fallen into just a huge decrease in the numbers.”
On a normal day, Lexington Medical Center officials would have around 900 people getting vaccinated. Now, it is less than 200.
There’s been a greater push in getting more teens vaccinated as well. Lexington Medical Center is partnering with school districts by making vaccination sites in the field.
“It makes me feel good that I’m helping others and just keeping everyone around me safe,” Makayla said.
With a dip in people getting vaccinated, there are plenty of vaccines available.
“We’re now in a good place from a supply standpoint. There’s no need for anybody to cancel an appointment based on inventory, it’s now just finding folks who need the vaccine and we’re there to provide as much information we possibly can to ensure that they have the information they need,” Moore said.
The vaccine clinic is located at 139 Summerplace Drive in West Columbia and provides coronavirus testing from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., then switches over to administering vaccines from noon to 6:00 p.m. weekdays. No appointment is needed.
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