COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A group of South Carolina senators, including the Republican leader, wants teachers sent to the front of the line to get COVID-19 vaccines so students can get back in school buildings full-time.
But there is at least one powerful opponent to the plan: Republican Gov. Henry McMaster. He wants to keep the current plan to prioritize people over age 65.
The governor said it is unethical and immoral to ignore that older people are more likely to die from the virus.
“We aren’t going to take a single vaccination away from those who are likely to die from this virus to give to someone who is not,” McMaster said at a news conference Thursday.
But the ultimate decision likely lies with the Legislature. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey introduced a proposal Wednesday to get all teachers and other critical school employees who want the vaccines shots within 30 days.
If that happens, every district in the state would have to offer students in-person classes five days a week by March 22. Just under half of the schools in South Carolina are currently a mix of in school and online classes with a small percentage still totally online.
“We’re about to lose the school year,” Massey said Wednesday introducing his proposal on the Senate floor.
The state Education Department asked school districts to survey employees last week and found about 57% of them would get the COVID-19 vaccine if it is provided immediately. That would be around 75,000 people, state Education Superintendent Molly Spearman said.
Spearman did not say whether she supported the Senate proposal or McMaster’s desire to place teachers behind people over age 65. But she did promise to make sure plans were in place if teachers are moved to the front of the line.
Spearman said about half the districts already know how they would get vaccines to teachers, using school nurses and pulling in hospital and other health employees. She would prefer to have shots at schools and said districts with plenty of nurses and other resources have promised to help more rural areas.
Senators said their idea pairs up nicely with a House proposal passed last month to give $208 million for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, personal protective equipment and other expenses to assure there are no delays getting shots into people as soon as the doses are available. That proposal is on the Senate floor.
The Senate appears ready to take a final vote on moving teachers to the front of the line Tuesday. At least 19 senators are sponsors, including four Democrats.
McMaster could veto the proposal, but the General Assembly could still put it in place with a two-thirds vote.
Senators were still sorting through some potential problems. They estimate there is enough vaccine to get 75,000 shots in a week.
But people over 65 have made appointments to get shots in the next few weeks and those appointments would have to be canceled, health officials said. The appointment system cannot move those people back to the front of the line once teachers are finished, the Department of Health and Environmental Control said.
The Senate proposal does protect people who have already had a first dose and are awaiting a second, Massy said.
“My message to those folks is this is not your fault. You should have been vaccinated already,” Massey said, taking a shot at health officials and the governor for the initial two months of vaccine rollout, mainly for people in assisted living homes and health care workers.
McMaster has defended the vaccine rollout, saying it protects the people most at risk to die if they get COVID-19. He said Thursday the Senate plan simplifies logistical difficulties in getting doses of the vaccine and getting shots into arms while breaking longstanding promises on who would get the vaccine first.
“It will create expectations that cannot be fulfilled,” McMaster said.
The AARP sided with McMaster, saying pressure needs to be put on distributing vaccines better, not changing who gets them first because 95% of deaths in South Carolina have been from people over 50. The group advocates for older people in that age bracket.
Massey said he thinks older people will understand once they see the benefits to students.
“Senior South Carolinians want children in school,” he said. “They want their grandchildren in school.”
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