County Councilwoman Gretchen Barron is hosting a drive-thru event Monday, Jan. 18 to help residents age 70 and older sign up to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Prisma Health recently expanded its vaccination efforts in the community to include people age 70 and older. The hospital system has created a waiting list for sign-ups as it works to arrange distribution sites and organize additional staff to handle the potential surge in vaccinations. Prisma Health is also waiting on additional vaccine supply.

The registration event will be from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at the James E. Clyburn Technology Center, 7492 Parklane Road, Columbia. Vaccines will not be distributed at the event.

Barron, who represents District 7, said that by helping senior residents complete the forms required to be added to Prisma Health’s waiting list, the County is addressing an immediate need in the community.

“Lack of access to internet and accurate information about the vaccine is a major barrier for the citizens of Richland County,” Barron said. “If the cases of COVID-19 are going to decrease, we must get the vaccine in the arms of as many people as possible and as quickly as possible.”

Barron said holding the event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is in keeping with the spirit of the holiday. Widely recognized as a day of service, the annual observance encourages Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

Eligible residents who are unable to attend Monday’s drive-thru event can complete an online form at www.PrismaHealth.org/Vaccine. Those without computer access can call 833-2-PRISMA to have their name added to the waiting list.

Barron’s full video statement on the event is available on the County’s YouTube page: https://youtu.be/R0fPGpBgRgc.