SC House passes $208M funding bill to help with vaccine rollout

SC House passes $208M funding bill to help with vaccine rollout
State lawmakers are sending a $208 million funding bill to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk designed to help the state's health department and hospitals improve the vaccine rollout and COVID-19 testing. (Source: WCSC/WIS)
By Adam Mintzer and Patrick Phillips | February 16, 2021 at 1:21 PM EST - Updated February 16 at 1:58 PM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCSC) - State lawmakers are sending a $208 million funding bill to Gov. Henry McMaster’s desk.

The South Carolina House passed the bill designed to help the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control, MUSC and other hospitals improve the COVID-19 vaccination process and testing.

The state’s Senate passed the bill on Thursday with an amendments.

In a statement to Gray TV, DHEC said they will also use these additional funds to assist communities with less access to health care.

The House had already passed a similar bill, but had to pass the new version after state senators amended the bill to remove a call for the formation of regional vaccine rollout committees. Senators said they feared new committees would add red tape and slow the vaccine roll out.

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