By Riley BeanandAlexis Simmons|February 24, 2021 at 6:02 AM EST - Updated February 24 at 6:41 PM
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Harris Teeter says they no longer have appointments available for their COVID-19 vaccination clinics at the Charleston Gaillard Center.
The clinics are open Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday from noon to 4 p.m.
Harris Teeter Communication Manager Danna Robinson says they are expecting to vaccinate about 1,200 people during the two-day clinic.
“To be able to get out of the stores and into the community and offer these COVID-19 vaccinate clinics, we’re really excited to be able to do that,” Robinson said.
Harris Teeter was planning on distributing the vaccine last week, but they say their order did not process so they didn’t have the supply they needed. Those appointments were cancelled, but people were able to reschedule for this week.
Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg was among those who received the COVID-19 vaccine at the clinic.
“I think it’s critical y’all,” Tecklenburg said. “It’s one thing to protect yourself and your own health by getting the vaccine, but really what you’re doing is protecting your family, your loved ones the people that you interact with.”
Lowcountry resident David Ramage was glad to get his shot after his appointment was recently cancelled with a hospital. He says his 90-year-old mother died from COVID-19 at an assistant living facility out of state.
“My brothers who lives closer to her, they let them go in at the very end just for a brief visit,” Ramage said. “The rest of us, we never got to see her.”
Physical Therapy Technician Allan Dapore says he got vaccinated to not only protect himself, but others.
“Especially for all the patients they’re my biggest worry, especially as they get a little bit older,” Dapore said.
Many people say they’ve struggled to get an appointment. That includes Tom Schenk who drove two-hours to get vaccinated at a Charleston hospital on Wednesday, but due to a technical issue with scheduling he couldn’t get it when he arrived. He was thankful to secure a last-minute spot at the Harris Teeter clinic.
“I haven’t seen any, I have five children and they’re all over the country so I really haven’t seen them,” Schenk said.
Robinson says those who were signed up to get the vaccine last week at the Gaillard Center were not automatically signed-up for an appointment for these two clinics.
While Harris Teeter’s system doesn’t allow them to automatically reschedule, Robinson says the site is live and anyone in Phase 1a was able to make an appointment.
People who are eligible to receive the vaccine include healthcare workers, residents and staff at long-term care facilities and people who are 65 or older.
The grocery chain says people can schedule appointments on their pharmacy website.Select Harris Teeters with pharmacies are also scheduling people to get vaccinated at their stores.
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