Tidelands Health offering COVID-19 vaccine at family medicine offices, hospitals

Tidelands Health is making it even more convenient to get the COVID-19 vaccine by offering vaccination to patients at all of the health system’s Tidelands Health Family Medicine locations throughout Georgetown and Horry counties.

Starting today, patients with an appointment at a Tidelands Health Family Medicine office can get their first dose of the no-cost vaccine during their scheduled office visit. Patients will then be able to receive their second dose at one of the health system’s three conveniently located regional vaccination sites.

“We know some people plan to get the COVID-19 vaccine, but their demanding work schedule or family responsibilities make it challenging to find time,” said Gayle Resetar, chief operating officer at Tidelands Health. “Now, getting the vaccine can be part of an already-scheduled appointment at one of our Tidelands Health Family Medicine offices all along the Grand Strand. It’s an elevated level of convenience for our patients as we continue to grow and adjust our vaccine administration strategy to meet the community’s needs.”

Tidelands Health Family Medicine practices are able to offer the vaccine because of a plentiful supply of doses across the state and in many parts of the country. When the vaccination effort began in January, supply was extremely limited, and Tidelands Health’s regional vaccination sites made every effort to avoid wasting even a single dose by precisely matching doses with appointments – achieving an impressive record of nearly zero waste. Once a vial of vaccine is opened, all doses contained in the vial must be used within a matter of hours.

Now, supply is plentiful, while demand for the vaccine has eased. Going forward, the priority is to vaccinate everyone who requests it, even if some doses in a vial go unused. That flexibility is enabling the health system to bring vaccination to its family medicine offices.

The health system also plans to offer the vaccine to hospitalized patients at the time of discharge, if clinically appropriate.

“We’ve said all along we are going to be good stewards of this vaccine,” Resetar said. “At the beginning of our efforts, that meant not wasting doses. Now, it means not wasting opportunities.

“While the vaccination rates in Horry and Georgetown counties remain among the top four statewide, we cannot let up on our efforts to administer the lifesaving vaccine to others who are still vulnerable to catching this deadly virus and passing it on to others.”

To date, Tidelands Health has administered more than 78,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

The health system continues to encourage all individuals ages 12 and older to get vaccinated.  

The health system offers walk-in vaccinations at the following times and locations every week:

• Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital, Harris Medical Pavilion entrance, 606 Black River Road, Georgetown, every Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 9 a.m-4 p.m.
• Waccamaw Medical Park West, 4040 Highway 17, Suite 204, Murrells Inlet, Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Tidelands Health Medical Park at The Market Common, 2200 Crow Lane, Myrtle Beach, Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

“It’s important to remember we are still in this pandemic,” said Dr. Gerald Harmon, vice president of medical affairs at Tidelands Health. “We have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 over the past 10 days. While we are grateful the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients is nowhere near the overwhelming numbers we experienced this time last year, we still have people in our community who are becoming severely ill.

“Take advantage of this new, convenient option of getting the vaccine during your regular physician appointment, or visit one of our three regional vaccination sites. Now is the time to get this done to protect yourself, your family and your community.”

Learn more at tidelandshealth.org.