COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – Confusion over federal changes to COVID-19 vaccine guidance has left some South Carolinians wondering whether they’ll need a doctor’s prescription to get the shot.
Health experts and state regulators say the answer is clear: in South Carolina, no prescription is required.
What Federal Guidance Says
In recent weeks, the Food and Drug Administration updated its COVID-19 vaccine rules. Under the FDA’s approval, anyone 65 and older, or individuals with certain underlying health conditions, automatically qualify for vaccination. For those under 65 without health risks, access in some states may require a doctor’s prescription.
That led some commercial pharmacies nationwide to briefly require prescriptions for younger, healthy patients.
South Carolina’s Position
Dr. Helmut Albrecht, an infectious disease expert with Prisma Health, says those restrictions do not apply in South Carolina.
“So for us, nothing has changed,” Dr. Albrecht said. “However, since the advisory panels have changed, the confusion that was created with this was pretty significant.”
According to the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, the state’s Board of Pharmacy has not issued a requirement for prescriptions. That means residents can get vaccinated at pharmacies, clinics, or primary care offices without additional paperwork.
COVID Activity Still Present
State data show emergency department visits for COVID-19 rose above 2 percent at the end of August, up from 0.71 percent in July.
Dr. Albrecht says the spike reflects a late-summer surge that has, in the past two years, been larger than winter waves of COVID.
“Over the last couple of weeks, I did get a lot of calls,” he said. “At least a question for this.”
Vaccine Supply and Recommendations
Prisma Health has not yet received its shipments of the updated vaccine, but Dr. Albrecht says CVS, Walgreens, and Kroger pharmacies report they do have doses on hand.
He urges people to consider vaccination not only for personal protection, but also for community health.
“What’s completely dropped off is actually the most important use of vaccines: community health,” he said. “Most people in the community should think about not only themselves, but what they should do. I think it’s a good thing for our population that we get immunity up.”
What’s Next
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently voted to end its universal recommendation for annual COVID shots. Instead, the CDC now says vaccination decisions should be made between patients and their doctors.
For South Carolinians, though, the bottom line is simple: no prescription is needed to get vaccinated.
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