Time to make COVID-19 vaccine appointments for students to be fully vaccinated before going back to

For those who are wanting to be fully vaccinated before going back to school, now is the time to schedule a vaccine appointment.

CareSouth Carolina is offering the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for teens ages 12 to 17 by appointment only at its Bennettsville Pediatric Center (201 W. Main Street, Bennettsville, SC).

“CareSouth Carolina, Inc. is excited to now offer vaccines to individuals 12 -17 years old at our Bennettsville Pediatric office,” CSC Chief of Nursing Tracie Thigpen said. “This will provide this younger age group in the rural community an opportunity to receive the COVID 19 vaccine.  This accessibility previously was not available.  Having access to the vaccine will help continue to decrease the COVID 19 cases in the rural community.”

The Pfizer-BioNTech is currently the only vaccine authorized for those ages 12-17. A parental/guardian consent is needed for children ages 12-15 to get the vaccine.

Upon receiving the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, there will be an appointment set up three weeks later to receive the second dose. You are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the second dose. You should get your second shot as close to the recommended 3-week interval as possible. However, your second dose may be given up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose, if necessary. You should not get the second dose early. ​

“If you want your child to be protected from COVID-19 before returning to school in August, NOW is the time to begin the Pfizer vaccine series,” CareSouth Carolina Associate Medical Director Jeri Andrews said. “The Pfizer vaccine requires two doses, 21 days apart and full immunity is reached two weeks after the second dose. Most children will be returning to school in 5-6 weeks.”

To set up an appointment at the Bennettsville Pediatric Center, please call the office at 843-479-1200.

The vaccine is available at no cost, is FDA authorized and is nearly 95 percent effective.

CareSouth Carolina is a private, non-profit community health center delivering patient-centered health and life services in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. CareSouth Carolina operates centers in Bennettsville, Bishopville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Dillon, Hartsville, Lake View, Latta, McColl and Society Hill.

Services provided by CareSouth Carolina include family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, women services, OB/GYN, HIV/AIDS primary care, dental, chiropractic services, pharmacy, geriatrics, social services, clinical counseling, laboratory, 4D ultrasound, X-Ray, migrant services and veterans choice provider.