<strong>From staff reports</strong>

Mass vaccination events on Thursday and Sunday accounted for more than 1,300 of the 2,000 initial doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine that Beaufort Memorial Hospital delivered last week.

The two events at Beaufort High School were organized with fewer than 48 hours’ notice after the hospital received 1,000 vaccine doses from MUSC Health, and an additional 300 doses from the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). The refrigerated doses had to be distributed within days of receipt to avoid expiration.

“I could not be more proud of our staff and our community partners for working so quickly and tirelessly to get vaccinations in arms,” Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley said in a release. “While we can’t predict the future in terms of our vaccine supply, we can guarantee that we will not waste a single dose.”

People who attended the two mass vaccination events will receive their second doses on Thursday, Feb. 11. Anyone who has not received their first dose will be contacted by the hospital to reschedule their canceled appointments as additional supplies become available. Those who need second doses will also be contacted by the hospital to ensure they receive them within the recommended vaccination window.

“I can’t say enough how much we appreciate everyone’s patience as we work to navigate through an unpredictable system of supply and demand,” Baxley said. “We have certainly demonstrated that we will do whatever it takes to vaccinate as many people as possible, no matter the circumstances, and that remains our commitment to our community.”<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

Visit www.beaufortmemorial.org/covid19 for more information and a list of frequently asked questions.