HOLLY HILL, S.C. — Close to three million people can request COVID-19 vaccines now that South Carolina has moved to Phase 1B on Monday. Orangeburg County residents say they plan on getting the vaccine.
"Oh yes, I plan on getting it," said Eutawville Resident Geraldine Schuler.
"I haven't gotten it, but I'm thinking about it, but not now," said Holly Hill resident Fay Smalls. "I have to see how things go."
The Family Health Care Centers Inc. and the health department were the only two sites in Holly Hill offering the vaccine. CVS has joined them as of Saturday.
"A lot of places were far from where I live, and I don't drive," explained Schuler. "Now that it's in the neighborhood, I'm able to get to it."
"I'm more interested in the Johnson & Johnson vaccine," Smalls said. "I want to see how it goes with the side effects."
Holly Hill's Mayor, William Johnson, says Phase 1B allows the town to start looking at reopening some of its venues, like Gilmore Park that has been closed since last March. Mayor Johnson hopes to have mass a vaccination clinic in Holly Hill soon.
"Given the fact we have more people getting the vaccine, it does change what we do in the next 15 days or the first of next month," explained Mayor Johnson. "If I'm a resident here, I would want to think because of Phase 1B starting today, it allows the town to open our venues and parks earlier because the vaccines are getting in folks' arms."