SC lawmakers will invest $208 million in rainy day money to fight covid.

The House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed a proposal to draw from the Contingency Reserve Fund to give:

- $63 million to DHEC.

- $45 million to MUSC.

- $100 million to establish the covid-19 vaccine reserve account.

It will be used to help offset costs of administering vaccines.

Only hospitals that are offering public appointments and covid vaccination providers will receive money.

The money is limited to vaccinations, continued testing/contact tracing, PPE/medical supplies, mobile units, personnel/staffing costs, education & marketing campaigns, quarantine, transportation & storage, general operations, large-scale community vaccination site costs, and technology.

It expands the authority  to administer vaccines as hospitals and providers asked.

The proposal now heads to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

The full proposal can be found here.