‘COVID’s not going away’: Some SC medical students to begin administering vaccines

SOUTH CAROLINA — It’s all hands on deck for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in South Carolina.

So much so that the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is allowing some medical students and retired nurses to give COVID-19 vaccines.

>> CLICK HERE to read more about South Carolina’s COVID-19 vaccination program

Some participating University of South Carolina medical students are just months away from being called “doctor,” but the pandemic has them stepping up early.

“COVID’s not going away anytime soon,” fourth year medical student Neil Borad said. “So it’s nice to get involved and be prepared for the reality that we’re going to face when we graduate.”

“Our job is to do no harm and heal people, so why no start now,” fourth year medical student Kevin Crowley said.

DHEC requires medical students to receive proper instruction and training. They also must complete a federal program before they can administer the vaccine.

South Carolina continues to have one of the slowest vaccine rollouts in the country.

The CDC said South Carolina’s vaccine distribution rate is the worst in any state. Only Alabama and Georgia have slower vaccination rates.

Many South Carolina healthcare workers opting out of getting COVID-19 vaccine

Cox Media Group