South Carolina Medicaid: COVID-19 Vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted full use authorization for the following COVID-19 vaccine(s):

• The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, for people 18 and older (2 doses, administered 21 days apart, are needed)
• The Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine, for people 16 and older (2 doses, administered 21 days apart, are needed)

The FDA has granted emergency use authorization for the following COVID-19 vaccines:

• The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, for people between the ages of 6 months old and 15 (2 doses, administered 21 days apart, are needed for people between 5 and 15; 3 doses for children younger than 5)
• The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, for children between 6 months old and 5 (2 doses)
• The Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine, for people 18 years old and older (1 dose needed)

Children younger than 5 have options for their COVID-19 vaccine:

• Pfizer vaccine: 3-shot regimen, with the first two shots given between 3 and 8 weeks apart and the last shot given at least 2 months later
• Moderna vaccine: 2-shot regimen given between 4 and 8 weeks apart

According to the FDA, caregivers should feel comfortable getting either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for a child.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)¹, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to help protect you from the virus. The CDC recommends everyone eligible for the booster get it.

The CDC recommends a second booster of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at least 4 months after the first booster for:

• Adults ages 50 years and older
• People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised

Check out this guide from the CDC about COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, when to get the vaccine, and when to get a booster depending on your age

Search for a place near you to get the vaccine or booster

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is making real-time information available about:

• Who is eligible to get a vaccine
• Where you can get a vaccine

For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine in South Carolina, call the DHEC Vaccine Information Line at 866-365-8110.

Get answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 vaccination

Ensuring the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States

COVID-19 vaccine information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

1. “Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last accessed April 4, 2023, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html.