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TO ADDRESS THE LOW RATE OF COVID-19 VACCINATIONS IN SOUTH CAROLINA BY TEMPORARILY AUTHORIZING CERTAIN QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE WORKERS TO ADMINISTER COVID-19 VACCINATIONS APPROVED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE OTHERWISE PROHIBITED FROM DOING SO UNDER ANY PROFESSIONAL SCOPE OF PRACTICE OR UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE PROVISION OF LAW IN THIS STATE.
Whereas, the State of South Carolina and the nation are in a state of crisis due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; and
Whereas, recently the United States Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorizations for certain vaccines for the prevention of COVID-19, but administration of these vaccines has been hampered by the low availability of health care workers authorized to administer them, a limitation caused in part by scope of practice restrictions and unauthorized practice restrictions; and
Whereas, to increase alarmingly low vaccination rates throughout the State, it is essential that the pool of health care workers authorized to administer these COVID-19 vaccines temporarily be expanded as much as possible without compromising public safety and in compliance with federal requirements. Now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. (A) Health care workers who are qualified by virtue of professional training to administer intramuscular injections may administer COVID-19 vaccines authorized by the United State Food and Drug Administration at vaccination provider facilities/organizations enrolled in the federal COVID-19 Vaccination Program coordinated through DHEC's Immunization Program, regardless of whether they are prohibited from doing so under any professional scope of practice or unauthorized practice provision of law in this State.
(B) For purposes of this joint resolution, "health care worker" means those persons who are both:
(1) designated as health care workers by DHEC for receipt of the COVID-19 vaccination in Phase 1a of the department's plan for a rollout distribution of the vaccine; and
(2) qualified by virtue of professional training to administer intramuscular injections.
(C) Notwithstanding any professional scope of practice or unauthorized practice provision of law in this State, South Carolina-licensed advance practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and registered nurses in good standing may delegate COVID-19 vaccine administration to certified medical assistants, and may provide onsite supervision of certified medical assistants administering COVID-19 vaccines.
(D) Retired or inactive health care workers may administer COVID-19 vaccines subject to the following requirements:
(1) the retired or inactive health care worker was licensed by a South Carolina professional licensing board;
(2) the retired or inactive health care worker did not have his license revoked and was in good standing upon retirement or inactive status; and
(3) a South Carolina-licensed physician, advance practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or registered nurse must provide onsite supervision of the retired or inactive health care worker during vaccine administration.
SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval by the Governor and terminates when South Carolina is no longer under a public health emergency concerning COVID-19 declared by the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
This web page was last updated on January 12, 2021 at 2:43 PM