Dear Friend,  

Welcome back to my health care newsletter. You can sign up for my weekly updates and other issue-specific newsletters here. Please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for regular updates on how I am serving the people of South Carolina!   

COVID-19 Vaccine Availability 

As distribution of the vaccine continues, all South Carolinians age 65 and older may now begin to make appointments to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If you need to make an appointment for yourself or a loved one, there is an online resource provided by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to assist you in locating the closest location available for you. If you cannot access that website, you can call 1-855-472-3432 for assistance in making an appointment. Due to limited availability and the large number of vaccines that need to be administered, there may be a slight delay in appointment availability.

Medical professionals are working diligently across the state. Nearly 1 in 10 South Carolinians have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. So far, we have used 85% of the vaccines available to us, which puts South Carolina in the top ten of states for vaccine supply utilization.

Johnson and Johnson has submitted an application for emergency use authorization of the COVID-19 vaccine it has developed. While current vaccines require two doses, Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine would require just one dose. This is great news! We are hopeful that authorization will soon follow.

Protecting Our Seniors

My priority is protecting seniors and other vulnerable Americans from the pandemic. To that end, during a series of votes last week, I introduced an amendment to ensure the accurate reporting of COVID-19-related nursing home resident and staff deaths. Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated, as my Democratic colleagues did not share my prioritization of protecting the nation’s most exposed populations. As of last month, roughly 36% of all COVID-19-related fatalities in the U.S. had been of long-term care facility residents or staff. As we continue to address the challenges created by the pandemic, we must demand accurate information to guide our response to COVID-19.

Putting You in Control of Your Health Care

It is apparent now more than ever, that Americans should be able to use more of their pre-tax dollars for healthcare. That’s why I cosponsored an amendment last week aimed at expanding access to and qualifications for health savings accounts (HSAs). This amendment, which passed with bipartisan support, includes increasing HSA contribution limits and including dietary and nutritional supplements among HSA-qualified medical expenses.

My team and I are hard at work for you. For more information or to contact us please visit my website. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

As we look to expand COVID-19 vaccine access, which actions by the federal government do you see as the highest priority?

Launching public education initiatives on the safety and effectiveness of FDA-authorized vaccines. Expediting the FDA review and authorization processes to bring vaccines to market more quickly. Entering into additional purchasing agreements to ensure a sustainable supply of authorized and soon-to-be authorized vaccines. Conducting research into new viral variants and the effectiveness of various vaccines in preventing against them. Funding the development of additional vaccine candidates to increase options.

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